‘I will cross my fingers’ – Crystal Palace boss Glasner hopes Jean-Philippe Mateta can achieve desire of playing for France’s senior side

Oliver Glasner says he will cross his fingers that Jean-Philippe Mateta wins his first call-up to France’s senior side and can see the Crystal Palace striker’s ‘desire’ to play for his national team.

The 27-year-old has scored 23 times in 33 games across all competitions for club and country across 2023.

Ex-Lyon frontman Mateta has four goals to his name so far for the Eagles at the start of the 2024-25 season.

Mateta was a key player for Thierry Henry during this summer’s Olympic Games, scoring five goals in six games to earn a silver medal for France. 

Real Madrid confirmed this week that forward Kylian Mbappe, 25, is out for three weeks and is set to miss this upcoming international break.

Les Bleus boss Didier Deschamps announces his squad next Thursday ahead of Nations League matches against Israel and Belgium.

“I always want the best for every single in our squad,” said Eagles manager Glasner.

“I know the desire JP has to play for France.

“For him, because I want the best for him, I would wish it, but it’s the decision of Didier Deschamps.

“The French team has a lot of talented and attacking players – it’s the same as England.

“It’s their decision. JP is working hard – he has scored goals. 

“He knows that is not where he wants to be. That’s completely understandable after the short break [at the end of last season] and then a very emotional Olympic pre-season and tournament.

“He played in a final then, one week later, he started in the Premier League.

“He never experienced this before. Even though he’s 27, he has never experienced this before in his career.

“He does well and he’s hard-working. He will get all of our support to reach his best level again.

“I will cross my fingers that he gets the nomination [senior call-up] to France.” 

Mateta has recorded 19 goal contributions – 17 goals and two assists – in 20 games under Glasner so far.

“In any job, you don’t get gifts,” added the former Europa League winning manager. 

“You get gifts for your birthday and you give gifts to your children at Christmas or Easter,

“In your job as a football player, you don’t get it because you’re a nice guy, you have to perform in the best way and then it is the decision of the manager.

“This is what JP can do. He can perform for Crystal Palace and he can show that he is ready to play for France, and then he will get the nomination, for sure.

“If not, it means that he can continue to work hard, improving, developing and getting better. This should be the intrinsic motivation of any sportsman.

“If you have this intrinsic motivation to always improve and to get better and better, it will happen.

“Then, you get the reward, but you never get a gift.”