Loic Remy's France Form the Only Thing Keeping Him in Didier Deschamps' Plans

On Tuesday night, France won their second friendly of the international break, beating Armenia 3-0, despite Didier Deschamps making wholesale changes to the side that beat Portugal 2-1 at the Stade de France. Chelsea forward Loic Remy scored the opening goal of the game after just eight minutes, his seventh for his country and his third of 2014, which is lucky, because his international form is the only thing keeping him in Deschamps plans.

It was an interesting summer for the 27-year-old forward. It started in Brazil, as he joined the France squad in reaching the quarter-final stage of the competition, before being eliminated by eventual winners Germany. That game was one of only two short appearances that Remy made in the tournament, and the forward returned to England to try to decide his club future.

After a successful loan spell at Newcastle United, Remy was linked with a whole host of clubs this summer. He reportedly failed a medical at Liverpool, via Ben Smith on BBC Sport, and eventually, near the end of the window, made a somewhat surprise move to Chelsea.

In Deschamps’ first squad after the World Cup, only two changes were made from the 23-man selection that went to Brazil, both forced, with the other 21 all rewarded for their part in Les Bleus' success in South America. Not only had they reached their goal of the quarter-finals, but they had built a great team spirit and brought pride back to the team.

Thibault Camus/Associated Press

At the start of September, in the Stade de France, Remy scored the only goal of the game as the French beat Spain 1-0. It was a great moment for the forward and a nice friendly result for Deschamps and his side. Remy hadn’t had a chance to play for his new club yet, so it was the ideal start to the season and kept him in Deschamps' good graces.

Remy played for two seasons under Deschamps at Marseille, and he never let his coach down. In their time together, Remy scored 27 goals in 60 games, winning his initial move to Queens Park Rangers during the 2012/13 January transfer window. Now, it is the relationship that Remy enjoys with his coach and his international form that is keeping his place in the France squad.

France is spoiled for choice with attacking options. Upfront, in the No. 9 role, they have Karim Benzema, the injured Olivier Giroud and Marseille and Ligue 1’s current top scorer, Andre-Pierre Gignac, leading the line. On the wings of Deschamps' 4-3-3, the preferred duo is Mathieu Valbuena and Antoine Griezmann.

On the bench, Deschamps favours having a forward that can play both as a No. 9 and on the wing, and that is where Remy is perfect.

However, he is not the only current French player who can do that job convincingly. When Deschamps was set to announce the squad for the games against Portugal and Armenia, many expected either Lyon’s Alexandre Lacazette or Toulouse forward Wissam Ben Yedder to get the nod ahead of Remy.

Paul Gilham/Getty Images

At Chelsea, Remy has scored once, but has only managed 27 minutes of action so far, over in Ligue 1, Lacazette had scored four times—then followed it up with a hat-trick after he didn’t make the squad—and Ben Yedder has helped Le Tefece with six goals in just nine games. Both missed out and Remy was a surprise inclusion.

Given the start against Armenia, Remy teamed up with his former strike partner Gignac and impressed as France won the game 3-0. After eight minutes it was Remy who got on the end of Gignac’s cross-come-shot; the striker got in front of his man to tap in from close range.

Remy also hit the post in the first half. Gignac found him with a lovely through-ball, and the Chelsea forward turned onto his right-foot before his low curling shot came back off the post.

For the two years that Deschamps has been in charge, Remy has never let him down. He has never complained about his place on the bench and has always tried his hardest when called upon, no matter how little he made it onto the pitch.

On form, both Lacazette and Ben Yedder deserve their place in the France national team, but as long as Remy continues to impress whenever Deschamps gives him the nod, then it will be his international form that keeps him in Deschamps’ plans, rather than his form at club level or lack of playing time.

Deschamps has always shown favour to the players whom he can trust, that is why, despite ongoing pressure to bring in one of France’s younger strikers, Remy’s international form will keep him in the squad for as long as he doesn’t let down Deschamps or his country.