World Cup semi-finals are special. Win, and you get the chance to play in the single most important football match in a four-year period. Lose, and you’re almost instantly forgotten. And the Thuram family wants to be remembered for all eternity.In 1998, the year France won their first World Cup, their sternest test was the semi-final match with Croatia. Trailing by a goal, the French looked shockingly inept and bereft of ideas going forward. They had world-class attackers, but neither could make their mark on the game. So right-back Lilian Thuram decided to turn things around. The man who scored just 13 goals over the course of a nearly two-decades-long professional career was goal-happy that night in July 1998. He scored two second-half goals to give France a 2-1 win and a place in the final. Of course, Les Bleus then beat Brazil in the final without breaking a sweat. And those two goals remained the only two Lilian has ever scored for the national team, despite amassing an incredible 142 appearances for the county. It’s as if he knew his team needed him the most in the quest to reach the final.
Another Thuram helped the French 24 years later. Marcus, Lilian’s eldest son, came on in the semi-final against Morocco just as Walid Regragui’s team started to knock on the door in search of an equaliser. And although he didn’t get a goal, football people in France praised the winger for his contribution after he helped the team cope with the Atlas Lions’ attacks, as well as create chances in the final third. Speaking to L’Equipe in the wake of the match, former France international midfielder Sabri Lamouchi said that Thuram coming on was decisive.”We were defending low before Deschamps subbed Thuram on. His introduction allowed the team to start breathing again. He gave us balance and rhythm going forward. His speed hurt Morocco in the final 30 metres and gave our defenders a bit of time to catch a breath. When he came on, he hurt the opposition more than Kylian Mbappe.”##NAJAVA_MECA_6890958##And Antoine Griezmann, one of the most consistent French performers in this tournament, said that Thuram helped the team defend when it was make-or-break as well.”The Moroccans impressed me. They worked very well tactically, defensively and offensively. They gave us a lot of problems. Our coach realised that and made a change. Marcus’ introduction on the left did us good because there were more people to help Theo defend. Then, having scored quickly opened the game for us anyway, and the second goal put us on the safe side.”1998: Lilian Thuram y Didier Deschamps2022: Marcus Thuram y Didier Deschamps pic.twitter.com/WlW6T4qRAy— Jair Serrano (@JaySerrano5) December 15, 2022 How to reach the World Cup final? Easy. Just make the semis and leave the rest to Thuram.