Why Arsenal’s Matteo Guendouzi was booed by home fans before France’s demolition of Kazakhstan

 

On-loan Arsenal midfielder Matteo Guendouzi was targeted by his nation’s own supporters this evening, ahead of France’s meeting with Kazakhstan.

Mbappe headlines rout

Didier Deschamps’ men got their World Cup qualifying campaign back underway a short time ago.

In their penultimate Group D outing, Les Bleus welcomed Kazakhstan to Paris, aware that a victory would secure their spot at next year’s Qatar showpiece.

And, upon the final whistle sounding on Saturday night, ensure their passage to world football’s most prestigious international tournament is precisely what the holders managed.

A frankly laughably one-sided affair ultimately saw France emerge on the right side of an 8 (yes, EIGHT)-goal advantage, ahead of a final day meeting with Finland on Tuesday night.

Kylian Mbappe proved the undisputed star of the show, making Les Bleus history with a 4-goal haul, added to by a brace from Karim Benzema, and further strikes on the part of Adrien Rabiot and Antoine Griezmann.

Kylian Mbappé has a first half hat trick for France! 👏🎩 pic.twitter.com/gEXTdrIHdS

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) November 13, 2021

‘The stadium of PSG…’

As alluded to above, however, whilst, in the aftermath of the clash, it proved all smiles from a French perspective, ahead of the action getting underway in Paris, one member of Didier Deschamps’ squad was targeted by none other than the home fans in attendance.

The player in question? Matteo Guendouzi.

Upon his name being announced in the stadium, on-loan Arsenal midfielder Guendouzi was met by a chorus of boos and jeers from the French crowd.

Arsenal’s French midfielder Matteo Guendouzi celebrates during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur at the Emirates Stadium in London on September 1, 2019 (Photo credit should read BEN STANSALL/AFP/Getty Images)

So, why exactly was the oft-maligned 22-year-old targeted?

It came as a result of pre-match comments on Guendouzi’s part, which saw the former Lorient man bemoan the fact that his country’s meeting with Kazakhstan was set to be played at the Parc des Princes.

France’s home fixtures generally take place at the Stade de France, but, owing to a significant financial benefit, the French Football Federation decided, on this occasion, to take care of matters in the capital.

The Parc des Princes is of course also the home ground of Ligue 1 heavyweights PSG, fierce rivals of Marseille, the club with whom Guendouzi is currently enjoying an impressive season-long loan.

In turn, the youngster this week explained:

‘I would have preferred to play at the Stade de France, that’s for sure!’

‘The Parc des Princes is the stadium of PSG. But we will be keen to win there and I hope that the people who will come to the stadium will be wholeheartedly with us and we will push to qualify for the World Cup.’

Arsenal loan rebel Matteo Guendouzi booed by his own fans after PSG comments https://t.co/SZA0FYmFy6 #AFC pic.twitter.com/XVCcjoBKk2

— Daily Star Sport (@DailyStar_Sport) November 13, 2021

 

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