Guillaume Restes delivered a top-class performance for Toulouse Football Club in the 3-2 win over Le Havre on 19 September. The 21-year-old goalkeeper, recently called up by Zinedine Zidane, made several decisive interventions to secure a key victory.

The win lifts Téfécé off the bottom of the table, with the club now 17th in Ligue 1 on 2 points. The match featured a brace from Casper Tengstedt (49th minute penalty, 51st) and a goal from Thomas Jorgensen (79th), but the team relied heavily on its last line of defence.

Super important saves

As early as the 16th minute, Restes made a foot save to deny Fofana. He was then decisive in a goalmouth scramble in the 40th, pushing the ball away with his head. His most spectacular stop came in added time, in the 92nd minute, when he stretched to palm away a shot from Nakamura. His teammate Rafik Messali praised his display. "He made super important saves," he said. Messali added, "We have a goalkeeper who is in the France A squad now. He has the level, and he showed it again tonight."

Guillaume Restes was also flawless with his feet, losing no balls in short play. This style fits the instructions of coach Jens Bertel Askou, who asks his keeper to play far from his goal. This versatility is a major asset for TFC, who can check their upcoming fixtures, including a clash away to Monaco on 10 October.

Barthez's validation

Restes' call-up by Zidane carries particular weight. Fabien Barthez, the goalkeeper coach on the France staff, had already spotted and coached him at the Toulouse academy, calling him a "gem" at the time. Barthez will get to observe him closely starting Monday at Clairefontaine. For Restes, who already has over 100 Ligue 1 appearances, this first squad list is a logical culmination after such a convincing demonstration. TFC, who have scored 4 goals this season but conceded 7, can rely on such reliability at the back to climb the standings. The squad, whose roster is available on our squad page, now prepares for the international break with renewed confidence.

The original report is at RMC Sport Football