Tony Chapron has singled out Rayan Cherki as the biggest loser of France’s latest international period, arguing that the Manchester City playmaker has failed to make the most of the responsibility entrusted to him. Speaking on Canal+, the former referee questioned both Cherki’s recent performances and his tendency to hold on to the ball, despite the prominent role Zinédine Zidane has given him in the France national team’s build-up play.
Chapron’s criticism reaches beyond one disappointing spell: he believes Cherki’s World Cup showing was also below expectations. His comments have added a fresh edge to the football debate around the midfielder’s place in the national team selection, while drawing a distinction between individual talent and collective contribution. The central question is whether Cherki can turn his freedom on the ball into decisive influence for France.
In brief: Chapron called Cherki the period’s biggest disappointment, criticised his use of possession and said his World Cup performances had followed a similar pattern. He also praised the collective effort seen in Kylian Mbappé’s absence, while describing the captain’s attitude against Turkey as almost nonchalant.
Tony Chapron’s criticism puts Rayan Cherki under the spotlight
On Canal+, Chapron described Cherki as the standout disappointment of the latest France camp. He said the midfielder had looked ordinary rather than influential, adding that comparisons with Zinédine Zidane risk setting expectations that are difficult to meet.
The former referee’s sharper point concerned Cherki’s decision-making in possession. In Chapron’s view, the playmaker sometimes keeps the ball for too long, slowing attacks instead of helping France move forward; that criticism carries weight because Zidane has assigned him a key role in constructing the team’s play.
That tension is at the heart of the player criticism: Cherki is being trusted with responsibility, but the performances have not yet consistently justified it. His club form, including a recent Manchester City goal by Rayan Cherki, offers a reminder of the attacking quality France hopes to see translated to the international stage.
Why Cherki’s World Cup form remains part of the debate
Chapron framed the latest displays as a continuation of Cherki’s World Cup struggles, rather than an isolated dip during the international break. That assessment makes each appearance more consequential: a player expected to shape France’s build-up is judged not only on flashes of skill, but also on whether his choices improve the team’s rhythm.
For supporters weighing the wider France 2026 World Cup squad picture, the issue is less about potential than consistency. Cherki’s place in the conversation reflects the challenge of balancing technical freedom with the demands of a settled international side—a familiar fault line in French football.
Mbappé’s absence and Chapron’s wider France team assessment
Chapron also discussed Kylian Mbappé, but did not rank him alongside Cherki among the camp’s biggest disappointments. He argued that Mbappé’s absence gave other players the chance to show greater commitment to pressing and collective work, while describing the captain’s attitude against Turkey as almost nonchalant.
Those remarks broaden the story beyond one player. They raise questions about how France distribute effort and leadership, and whether individual stars can adapt their game to the group’s needs. The comments add another layer to an ongoing French football controversy, where selection, performance and public expectations often meet.
Chapron’s intervention is not referee criticism in the usual sense of a disputed decision; it is a pointed assessment from a former official of a player’s impact. For Cherki, the clearest response will be on the pitch: quicker choices, sharper influence and performances that make his responsibility in the France national team unmistakable.
