Anthony Martial’s 23 goal season in 2019/20 saw him recalled into the France international set-up for the first time since early 2018.
Martial’s promising United career stuttered under Jose Mourinho and he failed to make Didier Deschamps’ 2018 World Cup winning squad.
After making just one start at Euro 2016, a campaign he described as ‘disastrous’ on a personal level [Goal], it is fair to say Martial’s international career is very unfulfilled.
The Euros being delayed to 2021 always presented a dilemma for Martial. He needed to replicate his form from last season to get into the side.
It’s not going well
Martial blew his chance for France in the Autumn internationals, playing in seven games, four as a starter, and failing to score in any of them.
His club season has followed that inconsistency. Martial has now scored just three goals in his last 16 games for United, and he has only seven all season.
In order to get into France’s squad for Euro 2021, Martial has to lift his form or face the heartbreak of another tournament KO.
You would think this will act as motivation for him to improve. With his United career possibly on the line too, Martial has everything to play for.
It doesn’t help that there is such heavy competition for places to get into France’s team up front.
Kylian Mbappe is a lock, as is Wissam Ben Yedder, who has scored 13 goals in 24 games for Monaco.
Moussa Dembele’s move to Atletico Madrid could revive his chances after a poor first half of the season, while France depend on Olivier Giroud as a player who offers a ‘plan B’.
Moenchengladbach’s Alassane Plea is also in the mix after another strong individual campaign.
Martial still has a chance. He just needs to seize it and end the season well.
It would be heartbreaking for him if he is omitted from France’s squad once again. But on current form it wouldn’t be surprising.
Martial needs to lift his game and avoid a depressing summer, wondering what he missed out on.
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