The France-Germany clash generated high excitement in Paris.
Though just a friendly match to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Élysée Treaty signing while warming up for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers, this match still carried significant weight.
The 80,000-capacity Stade de France opened 60,000 seats for this match, which sold out in less than half an hour.
French media attributed the match's high interest to three factors.
First, French fans wanted to see revenge against Germany, it was the Germans who stopped France from reaching the summit of Europe at the Euros.
Second, the current French national team gave people great hope. Since Deschamps took over, he'd brought much fresh blood to the national team, and judging from recent national team performances, this French side made people full of imagination about next year's World Cup.
Finally, individual star power, the media mainly meant Julien.
Current Julien could absolutely be called "France's Crown Prince" without any issue.
And the day before the match, Julien met someone unexpected: Noël Le Graët.
As French Football Federation president, though he'd typically attend such high-profile friendlies anyway, meeting privately with him before the match surprised Julien.
Deschamps, acting as intermediary, didn't beat around the bush, and told Julien directly: "Mr. Noël wants to chat with you about matters related to your career planning. This is just a friendly conversation, don't be nervous or concerned."
Deschamps even turned his back, avoiding Le Graët while making a face at Julien.
Julien immediately understood.
Le Graët was all smiles: "I apologize for chatting before the match, but I know you have a tight match schedule at Bastia. After your match, you'll return to Bastia to prepare for them, so I could only find this free time to chat with you."
Julien nodded.
Le Graët immediately asked: "Now the media is widely reporting about your summer transfer. Do you have any specific thoughts yet?"
Julien shook his head. "No, nothing yet. Right now, Bastia has many matches, the situation isn't clear, I haven't had time to think about these things."
Le Graët didn't waste words. After considering his phrasing, he said: "Julien, as the future core that Didier and I value most, we must consider the environment most beneficial for your service to France. You understand?
The national team position and captain's armband require players to demonstrate commitment to French football. Making the 'right' choice at a moment crucial to French football's development will earn you more... support in the future."
Le Graët paused on that last word.
Julien frowned slightly. Was this interference in his transfer?
His mind raced, thinking, and seeing Deschamps frantically signaling, he seemed to understand something.
He asked tentatively, "Should I stay in France for now?"
Le Graët broke into a smile: "Son, you're very smart. You know what choice is best for you. France now has strong, competitive teams. Perhaps it's in Paris—the most suitable team for you."
Hearing this, Julien understood completely!
Le Graët had come as a lobbyist.
Julien didn't deny it, only nodded in agreement.
Le Graët continued. "At PSG, you'll grow in top-level Champions League competition without needing to adapt to new language, culture, climate, or match rhythm. You'll have more national teammates around you.
Seamless integration!
Going abroad, you'd inevitably face an adaptation period, possibly even affecting your form before major tournaments with the national team."
Pausing, Le Graët continued. "Besides, we need superstars like you to save Ligue 1!
You know the media calls Ligue 1 a 'farmers' league.'
Your staying would be the best endorsement for this league, greatly promoting Ligue 1's reputation and appeal.
Previously our teams lacked economic support, but now we have PSG!
Stay and become the banner of Ligue 1's new era. You'll become a hero to all French fans, a French icon like Platini, Zidane, and Didier."
Julien sighed silently.
Football unrelated to politics?
He just hadn't expected to be swept up so quickly. Perhaps too many big shots had high expectations for his future.
Value brings attention.
Seeing Deschamps's helpless expression from the corner of his eye, Julien smiled at Le Graët: "Thank you, Mr. President. I'll carefully consider this option, but right now I truly don't have time to make a decision. I need to help the national team reach the World Cup and lead Bastia in challenging for more trophies. I'm sorry."
Le Graët hadn't expected an immediate answer anyway, "Of course."
After chatting a bit more, Le Graët left.
"I'm sorry, but we'll encounter many such situations. There's no help for it—your influence in France is too great now. They don't want to see a Frenchman like you leave. It means Ligue 1 lacks appeal. Though that's fact, they want to maintain some dignity."
Deschamps vented to Julien.
Julien smiled, "I understand. I know what to do."
Deschamps shook his head: "Some things you should understand without me saying—the support Qatar gives the French Football Federation is unprecedented, so they got a lot of help in acquiring PSG and subsequent signings. This is Le Graët's experiment. He needs to first build a benchmark club, then create benchmark stars."
"Mm."
Deschamps came over and patted Julien's shoulder, "Don't worry, personal will comes first. You don't need to worry about these things. As long as I'm national team manager, I won't abandon you because of outside pressure."
"Thank you, coach." Hearing Deschamps's words, warmth flowed through Julien's heart.
So far, all the seniors he'd met had treated him well, Blanc, Zidane, and Deschamps.
"Relax, rest well, prepare for tomorrow night's match. For this match, I hope to bring the team a victory."
"No problem."
On the way back to Clairefontaine's dormitory, Julien still pondered Le Graët's words.
Even the French Football Federation president had gotten involved, who would be next?
In a daze, he thought of Mbappé's experience at PSG in his previous life.
Perhaps there'd even be interference from French political circles?
That evening, in the dormitory, Julien chatted with Giroud, Kanté, and others for a while.
Giroud told Julien, "You know what Dibu told me? He said he regrets the loan, would even be willing to transfer directly to Bastia. He's only been there a month! Look, even I'm surprised by Bastia's appeal."
Julien replied, "Then you should come to Bastia too."
Chatting on, they discussed Julien's transfer situation.
But there were no answers, naturally.
Julien stuck to his usual line.
That night, just before sleep, Julien received a text from Mbappé.
"Julien! I've agreed with Monaco!! We're about to sign!! I'm going to be a professional player! Thank you, Julien!!!"
Seeing so many exclamation marks in Mbappé's message, Julien could completely imagine how excited Mbappé must be right now.
Julien replied: "Congratulations, young professional. See you tomorrow at the Stade de France."
Mbappé had already bragged to Julien that he'd gotten tickets to the France-Germany match.
"Julien, see you tomorrow!"
The next day, around the Stade de France, by after 6 PM, crowds were already massive. Fans couldn't wait to enter.
The Stade de France was like a heart, the dense streets like blood vessels.
And the blue formations of French fans were the blood.
In this moment, the Stade de France came alive, blue blood permeating every aspect of the stadium.
French locker room.
Deschamps repeatedly emphasized, "We must lock down Özil. They're missing Klose and Schweinsteiger. According to my guess, they'll likely use a 'false nine' formation: Müller nominally up front but frequently dropping deep to link up, with Özil as the free man in attack, creating passing space through lateral movement. It is very threatening."
Speaking, Deschamps looked at Kanté, "You need to lock him down. Can you do it?"
Through his excellence at Bastia, this friendly was Kanté's first start for the national team.
It showed Deschamps's recognition, preparing to give him practice.
Kanté nodded, "Yes."
Kanté's speech was typically like this; he did not spoke many words.
Julien quietly said from the side, "Be a bit rougher. Let him know your power."
Kanté grinned.
Both teams' players walked toward the pitch to begin warming up.
French fans on site were already singing "La Marseillaise" in full voice to cheer for their team.
The entire stadium was blue, like ocean waves endlessly surging.
During warmups, Julien glanced at Germany's starting goalkeeper today: Adler.
He felt somewhat emotional.
Why did Julien pay him special attention? Because this was once Julien's favorite goalkeeper.
"Little Eagle" was undoubtedly a genius goalkeeper. Even Neuer had once been just his backup. After Kahn retired from Germany, he was considered the most likely successor.
At Bayer Leverkusen, he used explosive performances to push out Butt.
The Leverkusen manager at the time frankly stated, "Sorry, Butt. Now Adler is our starting goalkeeper."
For the 2010 South Africa World Cup, he was supposed to have his World Cup debut, with manager Löw even announcing in advance that the number 1 belonged to Adler.
German fans eagerly anticipated seeing the second Kahn emerge. Bild even compared him with legendary keeper Illgner.
Unfortunately, fate is destiny.
Fifty days before the South Africa World Cup, the "Little Eagle" about to soar had his wings clipped.
At that time, Germany's national team goalkeeper position had been extremely rich in options.
But then Enke died by lying on train tracks due to depression, and Little Eagle Adler had to have surgery due to injury.
Ultimately, young Neuer rose to the position.
From then on, Germany's number one remained unchanged.
BANG!
A powerful shot from Giroud pulled Julien's thoughts back to reality.
That Adler could start this match also showed Löw's trust in him—perhaps Löw still wanted to salvage this Little Eagle whose wings had been clipped by injury.
Soon, after warmups ended, both teams' players returned to the player tunnel for entry.
This time, the Stade de France's momentum reached its maximum!
The entire stadium seemed to experience an earthquake, shaking, celebrating wildly.
Blue flags flew throughout the stadium.
Many fans chanted "Julien's" name together.
In the stands, beside Le Graët sat Leonardo, Nasser, and others. Watching players conducting pre-match ceremonies and hearing fans chanting "Julien," Le Graët smiled at Nasser: "I already chatted with Julien yesterday. I believe he'll make the right choice."
Nasser was in good spirits, and replied, "That will be a win-win situation. We'll give Julien an extremely sincere contract. He'll become one of the world's highest-paid young players."
This season, with Paris performing well in the Champions League, Nasser's ambitions had rapidly expanded. He couldn't wait to see PSG standing at Europe's summit!
He believed in the power of money.
Just like Abramovich's Chelsea also, in a short time, through money, smashed out league championships, Champions League titles, and so on.
Now PSG wanted to follow suit.
TWEET!
On the pitch, the referee's whistle sounded. The match officially began.
France kicked off.
Giroud passed the ball back to Matuidi's feet. For this match, Matuidi, Cabaye, and Kanté formed France's midfield.
Up front was the attacking trident of Julien, Giroud, and Ribéry.
Defensively: Sagna, Koscielny, Sakho, and veteran captain Evra.
Goalkeeper Lloris.
This was basically the strongest lineup Deschamps could field for current France.
Of course, the opposing German team similarly had their best lineup.
4-2-3-1 formation:
Mario Gómez
Podolski, Özil, Thomas Müller
Gündoğan, Khedira
Höwedes, Hummels, Mertesacker, Lahm
Adler.
France's opening tempo wasn't fast, they even deliberately slowed the pace, waiting for Germany to come forward themselves.
France just kept passing in midfield.
And as Germany slowly pressed forward, in the 3rd minute, Matuidi suddenly played a through ball.
The football headed straight for the right flank.
Gündoğan, in the passing lane, realized something and slid in, trying to intercept, but the ball slid past his foot.
Julien received it!
ROAR!
Instantly the entire stadium erupted. Everyone's eyes sparkled with anticipation!
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