Lucas Da Cunha marked his first cap for France with an impressive display in Brussels on Monday, 28 September. The 25-year-old midfielder, starting as the number six, helped Les Bleus to a 1-0 Nations League win over Belgium thanks to a late Michael Olise goal.
Zinedine Zidane handed him his debut in the absence of Aurélien Tchouaméni, and the Como player delivered. The head coach expressed his satisfaction with the newcomer's performance. "Yes, very pleased, especially as it's not easy, it's his first call-up," said Zidane. "He played as he usually does, as I wanted him to, meaning he was liberated and played like he does for his club."
At the King Baudouin Stadium, Da Cunha touched the ball 97 times and made six recoveries. He also won four duels and came close to scoring with a shot that hit the post. Foot Mercato awarded him a rating of 6.5 out of 10. The player wore the number 21 shirt.
This call-up caps a remarkable journey for the Roanne-born player. After a spell at Nice, he joined Como in Serie B in January 2023. Appointed captain by manager Cesc Fàbregas, he experienced promotion to Serie A in 2024 and even played in the Champions League last season. "A few years ago, I was in the second division, today I find myself in the French national team, it shows that when you work, when you don't give up, things happen," Da Cunha said after the match.
The win in Belgium keeps France top of their World Cup qualifying group with nine points from three games. Les Bleus now host Italy on Friday, 2 October, a fixture detailed on our schedule page. The squad, where Jérémy Jacquet and Andy Diouf also earned their first caps on Monday, continues its preparation with momentum. The latest result, combined with the victory in Turkey three days earlier, builds positive form with two consecutive wins.
Background and full detail: Foot Mercato
