French Debate: ‘Zidanesque’ Gourcuff Reaching The HeightsComparisons of Yoann Gourcuff to Zinedine Zidane have been numerous in recent months, however, these will only intensify after the Bordeaux man scored a breathtaking goals last night, which had more than a touch of Zizou brilliance to it.
“Zidanesque”It would take a writer of Shakespearian eloquence to adequately do justice to Yoann Gourcuff’s wonderful strike for Girondins de Bordeaux against Paris Saint-Germain at the Stade Chaban-Delmas last night.
Picking up Mathieu Chalmé’s pass with his back to go, Gourcuff instinctively recognised the threat posed to the ball by Sylvain Armand, dragging the ball back first with his left foot and then with his right – ‘une roulette’ - as he turned brilliantly to face goal. But his path was immediately blocked by Sammy Traoré, who was navigated brilliantly as the onrushing attacker shifted the ball from his right boot onto his left. Faced with only Mickaël Landreau to beat, Gourcuff maintained his composure, toe-poking a powerful strike into the far corner of the net.
Gourcuff's wonder goal <---click for youtube videoThe beauty of this goal was the speed and grace with which it was achieved, and which is next to impossible to convey in mere words. Gourcuff’s play was as much a natural phenomenon and was as beautiful as the Northern Lights, as he sparkled and shone on an evening that would have the French media salivating “Zidanesque!” come full time.
Even the great Zizou, who, of course, also saw his career take off in Bordeaux, would have been immensely proud of Gourcuff’s effort.
Speaking after Bordeaux’s hugely impressive 4-0 success, the midfielder appeared to be lost for words as to describe the magic three seconds, in which he made accomplished defenders look as useless as training ground cones. “This is a bit complicated,” he told the media after the game, almost embarrassed by the fuss. “It was my instinct.”
The Rise And RiseThis intrinsic “instinct” that Gourcuff possesses appears to be appearing with increasing regularity as the man who could not break into AC Milan’s first team regularly last season grows into a continental revelation.
After five months of regular first team football, France is now convinced by his talents, so too are many Milanistas; next it is the world for the 22 year-old.
Hailed as an heir apparent to Zinedine Zidane when he joined AC Milan in the summer of 2006, the move proved a step too far too soon for the Breton-born star. Having made his debut with Stade Rennais in 2004, Gourcuff had enjoyed wall-to-wall first team football and fleeting appearances from the Diavoli’s bench did not suit him.
This problem grew particularly acute in his second season in Milan, which yielded even less game-time for the increasingly frustrated Gourcuff.
Faced with the prospect of playing in less than half of Milan’s games this season, Gourcuff decided to gamble, electing to move to Bordeaux on loan for the duration of this season. It proved an inspired decision as his stock has only increased since he made his (goal scoring) debut for les Girondins against Caen on the opening weekend of the season.
Head coach Laurent Blanc was quick to recognise the youngster’s talents, installing him immediately as the team’s chief play-maker and placing a phenomenal amount of responsibility on his shoulders. For the most part, the elegant midfielder lived up to his billing, with a poor performance against Chelsea on Matchday 1 of the Champions League a notable exception.
Given the standard of his play, Raymond Domenech awarded Gourcuff with his first international call-up on the basis of his superb start to the season. Quickly, the fledgling superstar asserted himself on the international scene, thrusting himself forward to become les Bleus’ natural leader of play. The highlight of his six-match international career was a tremendous long-range goal against Romania, which haul France back from a 2-0 deficit in a key World Cup qualifying match.
Although much of the focus on Gourcuff’s game has been the spectacular goals that he has scored – add a superb effort against Toulouse earlier in the season to that equation – putting the ball in the net is not what is central to his game. Indeed, he admitted so last night as he explained: “I do not shoot well... so I used the tip [of the boot].”
A cool head, perceptive passing and an impressive work-rate are all, arguably, more valuable contributions to both domestic and national teams than his (relatively) few goals.
Already, in just six international matches, Gourcuff has four assists while he has chalked up five decisive passes (with another to be awarded from last weekend) in Ligue 1.
Back To Milan?Such high level performances have inevitably sparked the question: will Gourcuff go back to Milan at the end of the season? The answer, for the time being, looks likely to be no.
And this is probably not for the want of trying from Milan, who are doubtless regretting the estimated €15 million release clause they placed in the loan deal as it is a figure that looks decided small at present.
Back near his family (his father coaches Lorient and took in the game at the Stade Chaban-Delmas last night), Gourcuff appears to be immensely happy and, perhaps more crucially, he appears to have fostered a tremendous relationship with coach Laurent Blanc.
Indeed, it could well be that the future of Gourcuff bound to that of ‘Le Président’. Although the player has denied that Blanc staying at Bordeaux would be a decisive factor in a decision, which he “will not think about until April or May”, he has admitted that it would certainly have a bearing on his future.
With the French media reporting that Blanc could be destined to sign a new deal in the coming weeks, president of the Aquitaine club, Jean-Louis Triaud, is investigating ways of raising the money required to sign the internationalist on a permanent deal.
“Everyone wants to keep Gourcuff in Bordeaux? That’s good; we’ll have to open a subscription,” he joked last night.
Realistically, Bordeaux, buoyed by a presence in the Champions League this season, will find the money to sign the prodigious youngster if they are given the go-ahead.
World ClassAnd why not? When players such as Robbie Keane are signed for a song by the likes of Liverpool in the English Premier League, to acquire a potentially world class player from an AC Milan outfit that has clearly missed a trick represents a great piece of business.
Few players in the world could possess the skill, vision and instinct that Gourcuff required to find the net last night. Having shown this kind of impulse on more than one key occasion this season, the 22 year-old is becoming mentally tougher and more consistent and is exactly the kind of rare match-winning commodity that can lift teams above the ordinary.
It would be unfair to compare Gourcuff with Zidane, however, the offensive-midfielder certainly has all the attributes at his disposal to become one of the world’s greatest. If you need further convincing, just look at last night’s goal again; you won’t get tired of it…
Robin Bairner, Goal.com A very good article I find worth reading. I think Robin hit the points spot on. I encourage everyone to give it a read.
Have you seen Adebayor play? I hope we go bankrupt before we sign that mediocre idiot. 30m? I would not pay more than 5m for him!
It really was!