Olympique Lyonnais Left-Back Aly Cissokho Elated To Be In France Squad

The amazing ascent of Aly Cissokho shows little sign of abating, though the Olympique Lyonnais left-back admits that he is still a little taken aback about being called by Raymond Domenech to the France squad who will meet Ireland in the World Cup qualifying playoffs.

Signed by les Gones from Porto in the summer for around €15 million, Cissokho was playing second level football in l’Hexagone only 18 months ago, and he has confessed his rise to the national team as something of a pleasant surprise.

“It’s going very fast for me,” he said to Football365. “It is a great personal satisfaction. But I must keep my feet on the ground. That's what the coach told me when I arrived at training after the announcement of my selection. I will not forget that. Do not ignite and remain the same in life and on the field.

“[Selection for the national team] is the dream of any player. I didn’t think about it a year ago. Upon my arrival in Porto, people began to talk to me but I did not take them seriously. Arriving in Lyon, they repeated such things even more. Once I learned that [Gael] Clichy would miss out [due to injury], they kept telling me that it would be me. Today, it's reality. I am very satisfied.”

Cissokho could also have featured for Senegal, and though he has pinned his international future to les Bleus, he will apparently do so with something of a heavy heart.

“I was born in France. I have completed all my training [in France],” he explained. “I always dreamed of the French team.

“But I never forgot the land of my parents, a country I love. I had contact several months ago with the leaders of the Senegalese Federation. I told them that I preferred to concentrate on my club, my start at Lyon, and rest during the international break.”

Cissokho could make his debut against Ireland on November 14, but Patrice Evra will be expected to start in the left-back berth for les Bleus.

Robin Bairner, Goal.com