Tottenham target Thomas Lemar was in action against England on Tuesday night.
France’s Thomas Lemar in action as England’s Kieran Trippier looks on
France managed to beat England 3-2 at the Stade de France on Tuesday evening, despite being down to ten men for most of the second half.
Harry Kane gave England an early lead by tapping home Ryan Bertrand’s cross from close range, but goals from Samuel Umtiti and Djibril Sidibe had France in front by half time.
Kane equalised from the penalty spot after Raphael Varane had been sent off for fouling Dele Alli, but France did claim the win when Ousmane Dembele drove a right-footed strike past Jack Butland.
England will be disappointed with the manner in which they lost the game, though it was something of an experimental side named by Gareth Southgate, who handed a first cap to Tottenham full back Kieran Trippier.
Intriguingly, Trippier was often matched up against Monaco winger Thomas Lemar, who is a summer target for Spurs according to French newspaper L’Equipe.
France duo Thomas Lemar and Kylian Mbappe
Lemar, 22, has starred for Monaco but was a little more subdued against England, even giving the ball away to set England on their way for their opener, and his potential future Tottenham team-mate Kieran Trippier coped with his threat well.
Lemar did though show one of the major weapons in his arsenal; his set piece delivery. For France’s equalising goal, Lemar whipped in a superb cross for Olivier Giroud, and Umtiti slammed the ball home after Heaton had saved.
France’s Thomas Lemar in action with England’s Kyle Walker
Lemar continued to probe down the left throughout but didn’t get much joy out of Trippier, though he did have a shot scrambled off the line after Monaco team-mate Kylian Mbappe had contrived to hit the cross bar with the goal gaping.
Tottenham fans will have seen glimpses of Lemar’s quality, and Mauricio Pochettino’s men should certainly keep pursing his signature after hitting 14 goals and 14 assists last season, but they main takeaway may just be surrounding Trippier’s performance and how solid he was against Lemar.
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