Tottenham ace Moussa Sissoko was confounding Newcastle supporters a year ago.
France’s Moussa Sissoko in action against Sweden
Moussa Sissoko received news yesterday he had been left out of France’s international squad for their upcoming fixtures – ‘reward’ for a terrible season so far with Tottenham Hotspur.
Sissoko starred at Euro 2016 to earn a move to the North London side – but the more you look at it, the more his performances at the tournament look like a flash in the pan.
Take March 17 2016 for instance. One year ago today, Sissoko was called up by Didier Deschamps for France’s corresponding fixtures for the March international break.
The reaction from Newcastle United supporters told it’s own story. Toon fans expressed a mixture of confusion and anger that Sissoko continued to receive international recognition.
Sissoko would go on at Euro 2016 to prove his doubters wrong, but Hal Robson-Kanu starred at the tournament too, and has hardly set the Premier League alight with West Bromwich Albion.
A look at mid-season reactions like the above would surely have given Tottenham better perspective than buying into his tournament hype.
Now at Tottenham, Sissoko has started only six Premier League games this season.
Had he ‘earned’ a call up this time, the response from Tottenham fans would surely have echoed the above.
As it is, Sissoko may be handed a reprieve, with Paul Pogba picking up a hamstring injury for Manchester United last night and subsequently ruled out of France’s fixtures.
This would be a shame, as his international omission might finally send a message to Sissoko to step up his efforts and improve his Tottenham performances when handed a chance, although Mauricio Pochettino may already have made up his mind.
Tottenham’s Moussa Sissoko before the match
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
