Olivier Ntcham has today been given a surprising call-up to the France under-21 squad for this summer’s European Under-21 championship.
Ntcham has failed to perform for most of the season at Parkhead. He has made 36 appearances, but inconsistency has plagued the former Manchester City man’s campaign.
But it hasn’t dissuaded France under-21 manager Sylvain Ripoll from including him for the tournament, which kicks off in June. Here’s a look at the full squad below:
Interestingly, the competition only lasts for two weeks. France have three groups stage clashes against England, Croatia, and Romania respectively. It will prove to be a big challenge for Ntcham, who has been capped 15 times with the under-21s.
It’s also perfect to keep the midfielder ticking over heading into the Champions League qualifiers. Ntcham’s struggles this season have been frustrating for both himself and supporters. But he could have an advantage coming back to pre-season having taken part in the competition.
A confidence boost?
It’s exactly the kind of confidence boost the Frenchman needs. There’s no denying that he has a lot more in his locker than he’s shown this term. Considering he also signed a new long-term contract at the start of the season, this is a big year for Ntcham. Celtic have invested in him, and keeping him at the club and making sure he develops is essential.
As for the Champions League qualifiers, the first round in qualifying takes place on the ninth or 10th of July. The second leg arrives just one week later. That could mean that Ntcham barely has a break before coming back for pre-season. Whether he would be allowed some time off for the first qualifying round could depend on the difficulty of the draw.
In any case, hopefully this tournament is a good thing for our talented Frenchman. If France can get the best out of him this summer, him coming back a confident player would be massive for Celtic.
It’s great to see under-21 boss stick with Ntcham. Here’s hoping he lights the Euros up in Italy and San Marino next month.
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