2023-06-09 16:27:30
“Six more points to go for”. Despite a long and busy season, Didier Deschamps, present at a press conference this Thursday, said he was determined to continue and continue the flawless performance of the Blues in qualifying for Euro 2024 which will take place in Germany (June 14 – July 14th). The coach also addressed the thorny issue of image rights in selection, while the leaders of the Federation are preparing to meet with Kylian Mbappé and Antoine Griezmann, captain and vice-captain of the Blues, on this subject. .
21 of the 23 Blues summoned have already arrived in Clairefontaine – Jordan Veretout and Alphonse Areola will join them respectively on Friday and Monday – in order to prepare for the next two matches. At the top of their group after their victories over the Netherlands (4-0) and Ireland (1-0) last March, the French team will face Gibraltar in Faro (Portugal) this Friday 16 and Greece in Stade de France three days later.
You will encounter a first opponent supposedly weaker than the second. Will this influence the composition of your team?
DIDIER DESCHAMPS. I don’t go with that intention. I don’t have all the parts yet. Through the sessions, I would have a little more, especially in relation to the form of the players. Out of respect for Gibraltar, I’m leaving with the idea of making the team as competitive as possible. Certainly on paper it is not the most formidable opponent that we will have to play, but these three points there on the accounting level have the same value.
The month of June is always a special month, where the Blues have experienced difficulties. Is this something you insist on with the players?
It’s never obvious. When there is a competition, there is a specific objective. There, they have such a busy schedule… They all need a rest. Yes, obviously it’s my role and the role of my staff to make sure things go as well as possible. It’s never an ideal period, but there are these two games on the program and six more points to go for.
With the physical and mental fatigue of the players, are you going to adapt your way of managing the group?
I made sure to move the muster forward a bit to do some athletic work, so I could get some additional data. The players, even if they were on vacation, knew they were likely to have these two games. We always adapt. The goal is to get this group of 23 ready for Friday, although there may be some athletic differences between them.
With the replacement of Ferland Mendy by Jordan Veretout, should we expect Eduardo Camavinga to return to the left-back position?
We learned of Ferland Mendy’s package late, so I had to adapt. The left side position is not the most provided today. In this situation, the France team finds its configuration of the month of March, because I consider that Eduardo has the capacity to be able to play in both positions. It is he today who brings the most guarantees, but this does not mean that he will not be used in the middle.
Philippe Diallo must meet the captain and vice-captain of the Blues about image rights. Where are the discussions on this subject?
This is one of the important files that Philippe Diallo has to manage. There are the interests of the federation that he will defend, as the players will defend their interests. Things are progressing, but it doesn’t happen like that in a snap of the fingers. The interests may be different, but as long as there is goodwill on both sides… We will inevitably find an agreement at some point. Today it doesn’t matter because there is no “shooting” period, but it’s not a simple subject. Today’s reality is not that of 2010 or 2012. It is important that there is this dialogue. I am sure there will be a positive outcome.
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