Patrice Evra (Part 3)

Patrice Evra's international career with the French national team began in May 2004 when he earned his first call-up to the senior squad for the UEFA Euro 2004 preliminary squad. However, he was not included in the final 23-man squad for the tournament.
Under coach Raymond Domenech, Evra made his senior international debut in a friendly against Bosnia and Herzegovina on 18 August 2004. He started on the left wing before being substituted in the 75th minute.
Evra's breakthrough came when he supplanted Eric Abidal as the starting left-back due to an injury. He played in France's first two 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification matches. However, an injury forced him to withdraw from the team for a friendly against Switzerland in March 2005, leading to William Gallas filling in.


Despite Abidal's return from injury, Evra struggled to secure a regular spot in the squad, as Domenech preferred Mikaël Silvestre as the backup left-back. This led to Evra missing out on the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Reflecting on the disappointment, Evra later stated that the World Cup snub fueled his determination to succeed.
After the retirement of Lilian Thuram following Euro 2008, Patrice Evra became the starting left-back for the French national team under coach Raymond Domenech. In a match against Austria, the first competitive game since Euro 2008, Evra provided an assist for Sidney Govou's goal in a surprising 3–1 defeat.


During the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign, Evra featured in ten out of twelve matches, including both legs of the playoff round against the Republic of Ireland. He captained the national team for the first time in a friendly against Costa Rica on 26 May 2010, leading France to a 2–1 victory. Subsequently, he was named the captain for the 2010 World Cup, ahead of Thierry Henry.
However, the World Cup campaign was marred by controversy. Striker Nicolas Anelka was dismissed from the squad after a dispute with Domenech during halftime of a match against Mexico. This led to a disagreement between the players, coaching staff, and French Football Federation officials. Evra led a player protest against Anelka's exclusion, resulting in the players refusing to train.


The strike was heavily criticized by the FFF and French government officials. As a consequence, Evra was stripped of the captaincy and benched for France's final group stage match against South Africa, which they lost 2–1, leading to their elimination from the tournament.
After the World Cup, there were calls for Evra to be permanently banned from the national team, including from former captain Lilian Thuram and Sports Minister Chantal Jouanno. Evra, along with four other players, was summoned to a disciplinary hearing by the FFF and subsequently received a five-match international ban for his involvement in the incident.


Despite facing significant criticism and ridicule following the events of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Patrice Evra remained steadfast in his commitment to the French national team, declaring, "I can't see my future without the France team." This unwavering determination was evident when he was called up to the national team by new manager Laurent Blanc on 17 March 2011, marking his return since the World Cup.
Although eligible to return earlier after serving his five-match suspension, Evra was not initially selected by Blanc, who cited "sporting reasons" for the decision. However, Evra finally made his comeback on 25 March in France's Euro 2012 qualifying match against Luxembourg, playing the full 90 minutes in a 2–0 victory.


He continued to feature regularly in the Euro 2012 qualifying campaign and was eventually named in the 23-man squad for the finals of the competition. France reached the quarter-finals but were eliminated following a 2–0 defeat against eventual champions Spain. Despite the disappointment, Evra's return to the national team marked a significant chapter in his international career as he continued to represent France with pride and determination.
Patrice Evra's background reflects a diverse cultural heritage. He was born in Dakar, Senegal, to a father of Senegalese-Guinean descent and a mother who was Cape Verdean, with mixed Portuguese and African ancestry. His upbringing was influenced by Catholicism, although his father reportedly held anti-Muslim views.


At the age of one, Evra's family relocated to Brussels, Belgium, where his father worked at the Senegalese embassy. After a few years, they moved to Les Ulis, a suburb south of Paris, France, where he grew up immersed in both Senegalese and Western cultures. Despite his Senegalese roots, Evra chose to represent France internationally, a decision that garnered criticism from some Senegal supporters.
Evra experienced a brief return to Senegal at the age of 10, primarily for circumcision, which he described as a challenging experience. However, he maintained ties with his homeland, although he had not visited again as of 2011. In his personal life, Evra is married to Sandra and has two children, a son named Lenny and a daughter named Maona. However, as of 2020, he is separated from his wife and engaged to Danish model Margaux Alexandra. Evra communicates fluently in six languages: his native French, English, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, and Korean. Surprisingly, he only uncovered his egg allergy during a medical assessment with Juventus.


Engaging in philanthropy, Evra joined the Shoot for Love Challenge, a significant fundraiser aiding children afflicted by cancer, an initiative orchestrated by the Guus Hiddink Foundation.
During March 2019, Evra adamantly refuted accusations of uttering homophobic remarks against Paris Saint-Germain. Fast forward to January 2022, he tackled the topic of homosexuality in football, revealing the rift between him and teammates who shunned the notion of a gay colleague. Despite facing opposition, Evra affirmed his supportive stance towards gay players, recounting his discreet friendships with closeted teammates.


In the realm of sports commentary, Evra served as a pundit for ITV during the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Transitioning to coaching, he returned to Manchester United in September 2019 as a trainee coach, honing his skills alongside the club's Academy coaching staff.
In the literary domain, Evra unveiled his autobiography, "I Love This Game", in 2021. However, his personal revelations took a dark turn in October 2021 when he disclosed allegations of sexual abuse by a teacher during his adolescence. Despite facing police scrutiny at 24, Evra vehemently denied the allegations.Venturing into television, Evra made a notable appearance on the BBC's "Freeze the Fear with Wim Hof" in 2022.


However, in February 2023, Evra faced legal repercussions as a Parisian court convicted him, imposing fines and mandating compensation to two anti-hate campaigns for his past homophobic remarks.
Nevertheless, Evra's involvement in football persisted, as evidenced by his role in the MYFC consortium, which acquired Portuguese club C.F. Estrela da Amadora in May 2023. Remarkably, the team clinched promotion to the Primeira Liga through the playoffs shortly after.

References

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