Selected for the French team for the first time at the age of 28! Mateta: When he was a child, he was kicked to the head and fainted. His idol Ibrahimovic

The 28-year-old Crystal Palace forward Mateta was selected for the French national team for the first time this week. Mateta revealed in an interview that during the low period of his career, he never gave up his dream of entering the national team, even if it was a joke to his teammates at the time.

When was the first time you played football?

"Downstairs from my house, in the neighborhood of Sevran (Seine-Saint-Denis, France). My first memory of football is that a ball hit me in the head. I was very young and was knocked down directly and passed out. But my love for football originated from my father. Dear. It should be noted that my father (his father played football in Belgium) did not want me to play football, but I made him understand that I just wanted to do this. Subconsciously, the fact that he did not want me to play football made me want to prove myself to him."

" It was my mother who told me that he didn't want me to play football, and he never said that to me himself. He had been hurt himself and didn't want me to go down that path. Moreover, football is very mentally demanding, and this circle is very difficult. But my father is proud of me. I managed to get a smile out of him, knowing that he was an old-school dad who never showed emotion. I play football solely for my father. He is my role model to no one else. Everything I told him, I did. ”

When was your first contact with the French national team?

"Very early on, because my dad had a videotape of the 1998 World Cup and I watched it on loop. I knew those games like the back of my hand. Of course, I remember the final against Brazil, but the one that impressed me was after Blanco scored against Paraguay. I watched it on videotape, so that was pretty old (laughs).

It was probably the most tape I've ever watched in my life, but even then I was thinking about France and recreating what I saw in my neighborhood of Sefran. I wasn't even in the club yet, but I told myself I had to be one of the best."

When was the first time you watched one of your idols, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, play?

"I watched his videos online when I was a kid. I like him because he is tall but can do everything: fast, good technique, good header, gorgeous and very agile. I have never seen him, so I hope to see him one day. He was the striker I paid most attention to when I was young."

When was the first time you believed you could have a national team career?

"To be honest, I always believed. I knew I would get my chance. I always had this goal. I am an ambitious person, that is my characteristic. When I do something, I believe in it with all my heart. In the early days of Crystal Palace, when I couldn't even play, I was talking about France in the dressing room, and some of my teammates at the time, For example, Zaha, they will laugh when they hear it. "

"They said I was crazy for not being able to play at Crystal Palace and still thinking about the French team. But I replied that this is what I want to achieve. It has always been my dream to play for the French team."

When did you experience failure?

"My start at Crystal Palace (January 2021). It was a difficult period. I had just come from Germany (Mainz), where I performed well, and then when I got to the new team, you didn't even have a chance to compete for the job. I remember, I was playing against Buenos Aires I scored in the Leyton derby and then I barely played the whole season. Sometimes I didn't even get into the squad and all I did was work hard and think, 'The day I come back, they won't be able to get me.'"

"That. Sometimes I also thought about leaving. But I never lost faith in myself, and I hope that faith never goes away. I don’t know how to explain it, but I had this mindset early on thanks to my parents. I have a very clear understanding of myself, I know what I can and cannot do. But when I see other players, I know there are a lot of things I can do too. Especially because I am a hardworking person. When you work hard, you will always get a chance. ”

When was the first time you tucked your jersey into your shorts?

"I can't remember the first time, but I distinctly remember doing it again at Crystal Palace. It was against Nottingham Forest. It's kind of become a trademark of mine and I think it's funny. I just did it because it was fun.

I was at the table with Jordan Ayew before the game and he told me he'd seen me in Chateauroux When I played with my jersey tucked into my shorts, it was a requirement at that time. Then I said to him, ‘Okay, if you like it, I’ll do it today.’ I like to joke around. But as long as it’s fun, isn’t it good?”

When did you win an Olympic medal?

"We were actually frustrated because we lost the final, but afterwards you realize what you have achieved and it feels great. I think that experience helped me get into the French national team today. I especially remember the phone call from Thierry Henry."

"I was in Brazil with a guy. My friend was on the phone and I saw a number that sent me a voice message on WhatsApp. I told my friend that I wanted to listen, and it was Henry's voice. I called back and he told me that he wanted me to join the club, but I agreed immediately and rushed back from Brazil."

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