Why Inter's Star Striker Struggles with France: Is Deschamps Justified in Shifting the Blame?

Inter Milan’s Marcus Thuram is lighting up Serie A this season, scoring goals at will and emerging as one of the team's most lethal attackers. With seven goals and three assists in just 552 minutes of Serie A action, his market value has surged from €30 million to €65 million, with projections suggesting it will rise even further. However, despite his dazzling form at Inter, Thuram's performances for the French national team have been widely criticized. The contrast is stark—while he thrives in the blue and black of Inter Milan, he struggles to make an impact for the French national team, leaving many to wonder why.

Thuram’s national team statistics make for grim reading. Over 26 appearances for France, he has scored just two goals, with the most recent coming in a 14-0 demolition of Gibraltar in November 2023, a match of little consequence. Since then, he has failed to score in 11 appearances, both as a starter and a substitute. The French media has not been kind to him either. Outlets like L'Équipe and RMC often give him poor ratings, regardless of his contributions. Even when Thuram has had good games, his scores rarely surpass the bare minimum, and when he falters, he’s often handed the lowest rating on the pitch.

For many French fans, the disconnect between Thuram's club and international form has become a point of frustration. Social media is rife with criticisms, with common refrains like: "Sure, he’s got an enviable physique and a famous last name, but his ability? It’s lacking."

Given his meteoric rise at Inter, where he has become the team’s top scorer, fans and pundits alike are left asking: why can’t he replicate that form for France? At a recent press conference, French national team manager Didier Deschamps was asked to address this question. His response was both revealing and evasive.

"Why does Marcus find it difficult to score for France? At Inter, he's very effective because he plays in a very specific system," Deschamps explained. "He has many, many opportunities to score for the national team, but they haven’t resulted in goals."

Deschamps’ statement, when stripped of its polite veneer, essentially blames Thuram for his poor performances. He implies that the striker has had plenty of chances in the national team setup but simply hasn't converted them. Deschamps also downplays Thuram's success at Inter, subtly hinting that Inter’s system is somehow "odd" or "unconventional," allowing Thuram to shine in ways that don’t translate to international football.

But is Deschamps right to dismiss Thuram’s struggles so easily? Or is this an instance of a coach deflecting blame onto his players, particularly onto someone thriving at club level but not under his management? Let’s break down the facts, starting with a key point Deschamps made that is undeniably true: Thuram’s role for France is vastly different from his role at Inter. This difference is crucial in understanding the discrepancy in his performances.

At Inter, Thuram plays as one of two strikers in Simone Inzaghi’s preferred 3-5-2 system. This formation gives Thuram plenty of room to roam, allowing him to exploit space, link up with Lautaro Martínez, and operate in a freer role that maximizes his physicality and technical ability. He touches the ball an average of 32.3 times per 90 minutes in Serie A, a figure that demonstrates how involved he is in Inter’s attacking play. Crucially, his shot conversion and overall efficiency in front of goal are remarkable. He takes 3.28 shots per 90 minutes, with a 60% accuracy rate and an impressive 35% conversion rate—among the highest in Europe’s top leagues.

Contrast that with his role for France. In Deschamps' preferred 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 formations, Thuram is often deployed as the lone striker, a role that requires different qualities than those he exhibits at Inter. In this system, he is expected to be a more traditional number 9, occupying central defenders, holding up the ball, and finishing chances that come his way. This rigid structure limits his freedom and reduces his involvement in play—he averages only 13.3 touches per 90 minutes for France, significantly less than at Inter.

His shooting numbers for France reflect this shift in role. He actually shoots more frequently in the national team (4.67 shots per 90 minutes) than he does at Inter, but his accuracy plummets to 25%, and his conversion rate drops to a woeful 2.7%. These statistics underline the main issue: Thuram is getting more chances with France, but the chances are of lower quality, and his rhythm and confidence are clearly affected by his lack of involvement in the build-up.

One explanation for this stark contrast lies in how Thuram thrives when given freedom to move and participate in the flow of the game. He is not a traditional target man who simply waits in the box for crosses to finish off. Thuram is a forward who needs to be involved in multiple phases of play—dribbling, passing, and using his physical attributes to unbalance defenses. At Inter, he has that freedom. Inzaghi’s system suits his style perfectly, allowing him to create and score in a fluid attacking setup. By comparison, Deschamps’ conservative tactics—focused on defensive solidity and discipline—restrict Thuram, making him less effective.

As Italian pundit Mauro Altobelli points out: “Under Inzaghi, Thuram is allowed to be Thuram. But with France, Deschamps doesn’t want Thuram to be Thuram—he wants him to be Olivier Giroud (a physical target man) or David Trezeguet (a clinical poacher).” This mismatch in expectations is a key reason why Thuram excels at club level but struggles internationally.

To Deschamps' credit, Thuram’s failure to convert chances is a valid criticism. The French national team is filled with world-class talent, and there’s no shortage of quality service from the likes of Kylian Mbappé, Antoine Griezmann, and Ousmane Dembélé. Yet, even with these stars around him, Thuram has not been able to find the back of the net consistently. However, placing the blame solely on Thuram ignores the broader tactical context. Deschamps has overseen a France team that, despite its attacking riches, has been blanked in a third of its matches in 2024. This points to systemic issues that go beyond one player’s struggles.

Perhaps the most compelling argument against Deschamps’ defense is the sheer disparity in Thuram’s performances for club and country. The same player who is devastating defenses in Serie A can’t suddenly become a "poor" player when he dons the national team jersey. The problem is not Thuram’s talent or ability—it’s how he is used. At Inter, Thuram is part of a cohesive system that plays to his strengths, while at France, he is pigeonholed into a role that doesn’t suit his skill set.

The solution is clear. If Deschamps wants to get the best out of Thuram, he needs to rethink his approach. A more dynamic, flexible system that allows Thuram to play with the same freedom he enjoys at Inter could unlock his full potential for the national team. Until then, the disparity between his club and international form will remain a talking point, and the blame will continue to shift between player and manager.