One Face of France’s Future: Lassana Diarra

France has four new players called up for the two upcoming games. I thought I’d take a post for each to introduce them to you.

First we have just-turned-twenty-two-year-old Chelsea defensive midfielder Lassana Diarra. Lassana really impressed me in whatever game it was I saw him in recently. (I think it was the Carling Cup final, but if I state that definitively as if I actually remember, somebody would then say, “Uh, Laurie, Lassana didn’t play that day” and I would feel like an idiot.) He’s started only 31 games in his career, but he really seems to be coming on strong lately.

Here’s a link to the Google-translated version of an interview with the French Foodball Federation. (I always get great entertainment from the Google translations. “Medium of Ground” would, of course, be midfielder.)

What do I like about Lassana, aside from his footballing skills? Well, watch this video. Is this not one of the most childlike, mildly annoying yet incredibly sweet interviews you’ve ever seen? It made me remember exactly how young this kid is (and totally activated the maternal in me.)

(And I KNEW I wasn’t going insane! I DID see him play at right-back. I was thrilled to have this verification. And I have no idea why this matters to me.)