On Brazil, the Blues’ first opponent on this tour.
“Brazil is still one of the great nations in the world. Lots of great players with a coach that I know well who coached at Juve for six months. He had difficult choices to make. When France meets Brazil it’s always a special moment. There, it’s Brazil, it speaks to everyone, it’s the land of football. Obviously Brazil is one of the candidates to win the world title. It will be a very good confrontation. »
Deschamps, on his last competition on the Blues bench which is approaching
“I know it’s the last with the EDF. Experience serves, experience serves. I realize that the closer we get, that it will be the last time. I don’t live with that even though I’m human, I don’t tend to show the emotional side but I have my own sensitivities, but I have to stay on the professional side until the end. »
The decision to give the CAN title to Morocco on the green carpet to the detriment of Senegal.
“I am surprised by this decision, and that it comes two months later. It’s surprising to say the least. I’m not going to say more. »
The absence of Matthieu Udol despite his good season
“Matthieu Udol, we follow him. He is one of the players in this position, obviously the fact that he plays in France and Lens has a big impact. I think you watch less matches abroad where there are other left-backs but you have less of them in front of you. Lucas Digne and Théo Hernandez are used to being there, even their level from one gathering to another can change, they are two international level players. »
Didier Deschamps believes that we “cannot detach ourselves from what is happening in the world”
“The geopolitical situation is complicated but that’s not why it’s a taboo subject, we talk about everything, the players among themselves and us at the table. After we have questions and positions regarding all conflicts around the world, everyone has the freedom to answer them or us. The players are citizens, they are faced with everyday life too. This does not prevent us from realizing what is happening around us and that it can have, I do not wish and do not hope, an influence on the sports organization. How will the situation evolve today? I don’t have the answer. It creates… I’m not going to say people are worried but it’s not a climate of serenity which brings today, because of what the French team represents today, an obligation of security which is more important. We cannot detach ourselves from what is happening in the world. »
The qualities of Barcola
“The truth of today, that of November. Barcola has always had its qualities. He has the capacity to be a starter in the French team. Is it to the detriment of someone else? The same observation has already been made for Doué and Dembélé. When he doesn’t score for a period we say “yes, yes, he’s not very effective”. The important thing is to have as much consistency as possible for the player. They are young players, Ousmane a little less so but it took him a while to get there. Barco, beyond making differences he brings additional danger for the opponent because he has the option with his speed to eliminate but also to go behind the back. In his range, in his quality, he has that. It’s important for us and it can cause more problems for the opponent. »
Mbappé and his knee, is it reasonable to take it?
“As long as he has a protocol that has been put in place and respected. He was on schedule. It went as planned. The fact that he was available for the match against City where he came on for 25 minutes. He has an important match against Atlético Madrid where he is supposed to play that match. In terms of injuries, the protocol was respected. I communicated regularly with Kylian, there was no obligation, even for marketing. Certainly Kylian is an important player but especially from his side it was clear that he wanted to be there with us. »
Is Ayyoub Bouaddi a player followed by Deschamps?
“I saw that he had not been selected. He has this freedom to be able to choose and I am not here to take that away from him. I didn’t talk with him, that’s not the way I operate when I call any player. They have a lot of choice, this is the moment where I consider that he can be useful to the France A team. Obviously we follow his performances, there is very strong competition. I took six midfielders. It will be his choice, I will not anticipate what I will decide in May. Then you’ll have to ask someone else, because it won’t be me. »
Didier Deschamps on Warren Zaire-Emery and his expanded list.
“In this position he never finds himself in a right-back position (when he is aligned on the right by Enrique), I consider him above all as a midfielder. The objective with the staff is that we are able to have three options at each position. If these options are combined with 23, 24, 25 players… even if I have expanded this list this time it is for specific reasons. Having two very close matches, with matches this weekend too. We made sure to anticipate and through this list of 26 players to have several options. Coming back to Warren he also had difficult times, since then he has regained playing time and his best level, which leads him to come back with us. »
Didier Deschamps calls Lucas Chevalier in a number 3 role
“As far as Lucas is concerned, it’s true that his last match was at the end of January. Since then he has been in a complicated situation where he has no playing time. It happened to me with important players, it concerned outfield players who could occasionally have difficulty reaching out. It’s part of the relationship of trust. I don’t forget that in the fall he was supposed to compete with Mike Maignan or even be a starter for the French team. Obviously this situation is not ideal for him. It is not in a number 2 role that he is taken but in a number 3 role.”
Didier Deschamps’ list for Brazil and Colombia
Knight, Maignan, Samba – Worthy, Gusto, L.Hernandez, T.Hernandez, Kalulu, Conate, Saliba, Upamecano – Camavinga, Kante, Cone, Rabiot, Tchouameni, WZE – Akliouche, Cherki, Dembélé, Doué, Ekitike, Kolo Muani, Mbappe, Olise, Thuram
A quick update on the Blues’ program for the coming days.
Gathering at Clairefontaine on Monday, training and departure for the United States on Tuesday. And match on Thursday against Brazil, in Boston.
Start of Didier Deschamps’ press conference in a quarter of an hour.
Well, in reality it will be more like 17 or 18 minutes, we know DD, he’s cool.
Hello team!
We’re (almost) there! A little less than three months before the start of the World Cup in the United States, we are already starting to breathe a little of the sweet scent of this World Cup. On the one hand because Didier Deschamps will give his last list before the official one at the end and on the other hand because the Blues will fly to the other side of the Atlantic next week to face, in a friendly match, Brazil and Colombia. So, who will be on the trip?
>> We’ll see you at 1:45 p.m. to follow this list!
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