Winger Bradley Barcola has been linked with a move to the Premier League, with both Liverpool and Arsenal interested, and Karembeu believes he could thrive at either club, although perhaps he would have a bigger impact at Anfield.
“When we talk about Liverpool, there he can be more in place because Ekitiké is injured, he can play on the side, so there there is a place for him.For sure Liverpool want to come back to the elite, for the Champions League and so on, and I think that they can count on him [to achieve that],” he said.
France vs England final?
Before any potential move to England, Barcola could face Thomas Tuchel’s side but only in the final in New York/New Jersey. That’s the final that Karembeu has predicted, the prospect of which he described as “amazing”, and that Kylian Mbappé would win the race for the Golden Boot ahead of Harry Kane because “Kylian is there to win everything.”
Alongside the tournament, the 55-year-old is joining forces with FIFA and Coca-Cola to promote their ‘Every Throw-In Counts’ initiative, a worldwide programme encouraging fans to take planet-protecting actions to score goals for their national team and be in with a chance to win official World Cup matchballs, signed merchandise and other exclusive rewards. Activities range from recycling, using public transport and choosing reusable items, to playing football and hosting a watch party or completing activities at FIFA Fan Festivals and stadiums.
So why did he get involved? For Karembeu, climate action resonates with him greatly because he was born in New Caledonia, an island in the southwest Pacific Ocean. Rising sea levels driven by man-made climate change are eroding 71 per cent of its 5,900 km of coastline and altering vital ecosystems. Global warming is also exacerbating weather extremes, increasing the risks of forest fires, flooding, and landslides.
“We need to care about our nature, about our ecosystem, and therefore this programme gives us the ability to think about that, and I learned that small details can make something great. By doing this, fans can help each other and our planet, and this is giving responsibility to everyone to respect our environment,” he said.
Saving the planet is one thing, France being on top of the world is the other on Karembeu’s mind right now. And in two weeks or so, we’ll find out if his predictions come true.
