Guillaume Restes walked into Saturday night with France on his mind and Toulouse’s first win of the season on the line. The 21-year-old goalkeeper, unexpectedly included in Zinédine Zidane’s first senior France squad on Friday, answered the sudden attention with a decisive display as Toulouse beat Le Havre 3-2.
There were imperfect moments in a frantic game. Restes conceded twice, with Le Havre striker Maja scoring the second after the Toulouse goalkeeper had first produced a sharp reflex save but could not prevent the rebound falling back to the forward. Yet the broader picture was one of a goalkeeper repeatedly keeping his side alive under pressure.
Restes stopped Fofana with his foot in the 16th minute, then used his head to deny Maja during a crowded scramble shortly before half-time. Deep into stoppage time, he threw himself across goal to push away a powerful Nakamura effort in the 92nd minute, an intervention that helped Toulouse protect their narrow lead.
His contribution also reflected the approach demanded by new Danish coach Jens Bertel Askou. Restes was clean and composed in possession, completing the short passing side of his game without losing the ball, while regularly operating well outside his penalty area to support Toulouse’s build-up.
The young goalkeeper already has more than 100 Ligue 1 appearances despite his age, and his rise has long been noted inside French football. Fabien Barthez, now the goalkeeping coach in Zidane’s France staff, had described Restes as a “gem” after watching him in Toulouse’s academy.
Rafik Messali was clear about the value of the latest performance. “He made hugely important saves,” the Toulouse player said. “We now have a goalkeeper in the senior France team. He has the level, and he showed it again tonight.”
Restes is due at Clairefontaine on Monday for his first meeting with the France senior squad. He will arrive after a demanding evening in Toulouse, carrying both three points and another reminder that his new international status has been earned on the pitch.
