Brilliant Gourcuff Describes Superb Goal

The increased media exposure being given to Bordeaux’s young star Yoann Gourcuff is testament to his rising stock in international football. And when the young midfielder keeps producing the goods in clutch moments, such as crashing in  a stunning equaliser for France against Romania last weekend, one cannot help but feel the hype is justified.

On Saturday evening, Gourcuff aided Bordeaux’s title push by firing home their opening goal in a 2-1 victory over Toulouse. While his strike for France was about sheer shooting power, this goal displayed another side to his game as a terrific turn on the edge of the box took him away from two defenders, allowing him to drill a super shot into the net.

In typically modest fashion, the young French midfielder has talked through his goal to Bordeaux’s official website. “When the ball arrived at my feet, I had two real options; to pass the ball laterally or backward,” Gourcuff explained, “But I saw this other solution… The opponents did not think I would try that. I would not have thought about it either, it was more instinct! It was fast – they had no time to react.”

Showcasing another aspect of his almost complete game, Gourcuff set-up a second goal for David Bellion with a deft flick-on from Marc Planus’ long ball. “Planus gave me a good ball but I was too short and could not keep it,” he explains, “But I saw Bellion in the right of my field of vision and decided that he must be behind me. We had success because the ball ended in the net.”

Media attention does not interest Gourcuff, who states, “They can write and say what they want; it only disrupt players and I do not want that. We have only played nine matches so it is still the beginning of the season.”

Robin Bairner