Da Cunha returns to Como as captain after France debut

“He’s the strongest, numero uno,” enthused Federico, a Como supporter. After earning his first three caps for France, Lucas Da Cunha returned to his club on Sunday for a Serie A match against AS Roma. He started, wearing the number 7 shirt and the captain’s armband. The warm reception around him reflects the standing he has earned at Como, while his coach was particularly pleased with his first appearances for Les Bleus.

His return came at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia, beside the lake, in the midday sunshine. The midfielder was back after two weeks in which he had made his first three France appearances, starting twice against Belgium and Italy. Federico believes Da Cunha deserves a place in the national team, too: “In my opinion, he should be a starter in your France team.”

Simone sees the player’s journey as reflecting the club’s own: “He tells Como’s story all by himself: moving from Serie B to Serie A, playing in the Champions League and becoming a France international. That really shows the club’s project and its progress.” Matteo, meanwhile, focused on the steps Da Cunha has climbed: “Starting from the bottom and working your way up every level is a unique opportunity for a footballer.” He said Da Cunha and those who believed in him deserve congratulations.

After the match, Cesc Fabregas said he had been moved to see his captain in the national team. “I know Lucas’s journey very well. I know the kind of person he is, how hard he fought, how he developed and worked to get here. It is very, very well deserved,” the Como coach said.

The France appearances also required a tactical adjustment: the former Arsenal midfielder plays in a double pivot at Como, whereas with Les Bleus he played as the deepest midfielder in a midfield triangle. Samuele Nava, a journalist who follows the club for La Provincia, regards Da Cunha as a symbol of Como’s progress and says the club can help players reach the highest international level.