2023-06-01 04:56:00
The French internationals will not go on vacation until after June 20. Before and at the end of a rich and long season, with a World Cup in the middle, they will have one last duty, in two parts: Gibraltar in Faro in Portugal and Greece in Saint-Denis at the Stade de France as part of the qualifications for Euro 2024. For the moment, the Blues of Didier Deschamps are at the top of their group, with two successes against the Netherlands (4-0) and Ireland (1-0). The rally will begin on Friday June 9 at Clairefontaine in the Yvelines.
For the final two outings of the season, the national coach called up 23 players with the returns of Ferland Mendy (Real Madrid), Ousmane Dembélé (Barcelona) and Christopher Nkunku (Leipzig). At a press conference this Wednesday, May 31 at the headquarters of the French Federation on boulevard de Grenelle (15th arrondissement), he detailed his choices.
Are you worried about the long lapse of time between the end of the championships, especially in Germany, and your first match on June 16?
DIDIER DESCHAMPS. This concerns six players in the list, who play in Germany. There will be physical maintenance work desired, desirable, advised to compensate for the time between their last match and the summons to Clairefontaine. I also advanced the gathering to have almost the whole group. There will be 22 on Friday June 9 at noon, except Alphonse Areola, who will be involved in the Europa League Conference final.
Apart from the goalkeeper therefore, no International is concerned by the European finals. Is this a good thing compared to previous years?
For the players, it’s better to play finals, especially the Champions League, even if a defeat can be difficult to digest. June is always very complicated, even more so this season because there was the World Cup. The energetic expenditure, physical and mental, was important. The season has been exhausting. We will have to confirm what we did in March.
Why the recall of Ferland Mendy?
And why not ? On the last rally, he was injured. He took a while to come back. He has already come with us. He knows this position well and he is versatile. He is not in top form due to his injury and the lack of sequence of matches, but that does not change his qualities. Its value is not in question.
Are you surprised by the constant interest of the public, the Stade de France being already full for France-Greece on June 19?
It is a great joy to see the attachment and the proximity of the French team with its public. The Stade de France is 80,000 seats. It is linked to what has been done in recent years. That’s wonderful. The players need that and it’s their merit. People identify with the France team. This does not mean that the group will tell it. We must maintain and grow this interest and continue to have the same requirement during these two games. We have six points to take.
Will Alexandre Lacazette return one day to the selection when he is at 27 goals in Ligue 1, with one more game to play with Lyon?
Good for him ! Congratulations to him and his club! He has always had this efficiency, even if this season he is playing a lot more. It is one of the selectable, preselected. There is competition in his position with players who have met my expectations. It doesn’t make sense to put multiple players with the same profile. We continue to follow him but in this box, we have Olivier Giroud and Randal Kolo Muani.
Would Paul Pogba have returned if he hadn’t been injured again?
I talked a lot with Paul. His season is very difficult for him, already off the pitch. This caused injuries. He entered into the reflection just in case. It has been essential and fundamental for years. He will do everything to be so again. I wish him and for the France team too. I hope he can sort out all his issues and can go back to another season with his athletic ability and leadership role.
How do you explain the regularity of Kingsley Coman?
He is every season in the right place at the right time. He has been champion every season for eleven years. He is used to the very high level. He had injuries and today he is less affected. He is a formidable competitor, a top level player.
Will you be consulted if a Blue changes club?
If they wish, yes. This can happen at gatherings and outside of them. They have enough advisers, but I can give them my opinion. It’s part of a relationship of trust. I’m open about that.
Is Aurélien Tchouaméni weakened by his replacement status at Real Madrid?
His playing time has shrunk. I discussed it with him, he cannot fully thrive in this situation. He remains a very high level player. He’s not at his best, but he’s still playing. He did not leave for Real not to play the big Champions League games, the choices are detrimental to him. But there is competition and I am not Carlo Ancelotti. He is at Real Madrid anyway! But psychologically, it’s not the best season of his young career.
Real Sociedad defender Robin Le Normand chose to play for Spain when he was born in France. Are you annoyed?
No. It is his freedom. He has taken steps with the Spanish federation. He has an unusual background. We had been following him for quite a while. He is not someone who naturally seeks media exposure. It performs very well. It’s his choice. I wish him the best with the Spanish selection.
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