Didier Deschamps was asked about Jean-Clair Todibo's first call-up to the France senior team as Les Bleus arrived at Clairefontaine at midday on Monday.

After explaining that his early career - starting at Toulouse, the defender joined Barça before being loaned to Schalke and then Benfica - had not allowed him to accumulate the playing time necessary for a call-up to the U21 squad, the coach emphasised JC's consistency since arriving on the Côte d'Azur at the beginning of 2021. "Since he has been in Nice, he has had much more playing time (93 games in all competitions), consistency and performances at a very good level. He has become more confident".

Didier Deschamps, who highlighted that he “is a defender, good in the duels, with speed and good technically", admitted that he had been watching the Nice player's performances "for many months, and even last season. I monitored him before the competition in Doha (the World Cup) and since then he has continued to perform well."

With his friend Khephren Thuram, Jean-Clair Todibo and Les Bleus will face the Netherlands (at the Stade de France, Friday 24 March) and then the Republic of Ireland (Monday 27 March at 20:45).

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