As France edged past a spirited Senegal, the phrase ‘one of the best in the world’ could almost apply to anyone in Didier Deschamps’ Les Bleus team. West Ham United’s El Hadji Malick Diouf, though, has a long way to go before he can be mentioned in such terms.
The young left-back is anything but a ‘world-class’ operator at present.
Yet, as he demonstrated during a 3-1 France victory much closer than the scoreline suggests, El Hadji Malick Diouf is a left-back with undoubted ‘world-class’ potential when it comes to dropping a trademark whipped cross onto the width of a sixpence.
How far can Malick Diouf go? And what does he need to do to become a world-class left-back?
West Ham United’s number 12 was at the heart of many of Senegal’s best chances at the MetLife Stadium.
In the first half, with the score still level, Diouf dispossessed a certain Kylian Mbappe with ease before setting Nicolas Jackson away. The tireless Chelsea forward rattled the post. On the stroke of the interval, Diouf played a clever ball in behind for Sadio Mane before Ismaila Sarr slapped a gilt-edged chance over the bar.
Diouf’s ‘unbelievable’ crossing ability earned comparisons with David Beckham during his debut season in the Premier League. Beckham would have been proud of the sublime delivery Diouf provided as Jackson fired over in the second ’45.
West Ham United’s El Hadji Malick Diouf shines on the world stage
“One of the best crossers in the world,” seasoned starlet spotters Rising Stars wrote on their X account.
“Every single left-back in world football should learn and study how to cross a football like Diouf,” another wrote. “He does it 9/10 times with some ridiculous whip and zip on it.”
Of course, the West Ham supporters know Diouf better than most. His qualities and also his many weaknesses.
They will tell you that, for every perfect cross, the 21-year-old blazes ten out for a throw-in. After racking up three assists in his first five Premier League matches, he would muster only two in the next 27.
Manchester United have cooled their interest for a reason, all the while stepping up their pursuit of Mateus Fernandes and Crysencio Summerville.
And, when we at Hammers News asked our TalkingPoint users to predict what the immediate future holds for him after relegation, the feeling was that Diouf is more likely to end up at Crystal Palace than he is the Champions League.
Diouf gets World Cup viewers off their seats as France beat Senegal
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Those demanding their club ‘throw £40 million at West Ham for Malick Diouf’, to quote a pleading Chelsea supporter, should maybe consult those in East London before they get too carried away.
Still, what cannot be disputed is that Diouf, with a bit more practice and patience, could become one of the greatest crossers in the game today.
“This Diouf guy gets a lot of stick but his crossing level is genuinely elite standard,” one writes.
“Not sure I rate Diouf that highly overall but his crossing is absolutely RIDICULOUS. The whip on the crosses is insane!”
“Can’t remember watching El Hadji Malick Diouf and thinking he’s anything other than great. Superb here again.”
“Surely a player someone will take a punt on this summer?”
It feels fitting we should conclude with a message from one of the more measured West Ham supporters.
“A lot of things have been said about him lately and I don’t like it,” they write on a night when Kylian Mbappe and France set the benchmark with a ruthless second-half display.
“He’s gonna be a top player. Exactly. Yes, his crossing can be a bit bad at times but he’s a 21-year-old in a terrible team so of course he’s gonna be inconsistent.”
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