Robin Risser France national team call-up, Digi Mart USA News: Lens goalkeeper Robin Risser has joined Clairefontaine and the France squad in a very particular context. He has conceded 11 goals in two matches, including a historic 9-1 defeat to Como at Bollaert.
Coaches Zinédine Zidane and Fabien Barthez wanted to see him after he withdrew from the previous training camp. They chose him over Jean Butez, the Como goalkeeper who had come in as a replacement in September alongside Mike Maignan and Guillaume Restes, who used the opportunity to earn his first cap.
Risser took part in the last World Cup as the third-choice goalkeeper but has yet to earn a France cap, as he has never come on in a match. He also recently lost the derby in Lille 1-0, where he delayed the moment but has struggled to regain his effectiveness.
His defense has often struggled, and Lens has now gone 14 matches without a clean sheet. It is likely strange for him to join the French dressing room after such a heavy recent defeat, particularly since his teammate Lucas Da Cunha is also in the squad.
According to L’Équipe, the season has been far below the standards he set last year, with reported training friction. The newspaper reports that his relationship with goalkeeping coach Cédric Berthelin has lost some fluidity, and that Risser told another Ligue 1 goalkeeper he was unhappy with the work with his specific coach, who had helped him win the UNFP Best Goalkeeper Trophy in his first Ligue 1 season last year.
Berthelin has also coached Hervé Koffi when he emerged at Charleroi and was nominated for the UNFP Best Ligue 1 Goalkeeper Trophy last season while on loan at Angers. Koffi, currently on loan with a purchase option at Union Saint-Gilloise in Belgium, has also performed well in the Europa League, with eight clean sheets for the club and nine including Burkina Faso international matches.
For now, Risser will use the days at Clairefontaine to step away from a difficult situation at Lens and possibly return to the Gaillette with more confidence.
