Although the coach of the French national team, Didier Deschamps, assesses in an interview with AFP that it is “logical” that his team is considered one of the favorites for the title of Euro 2024, he also highlights that he will face “a difficult group” since the start of the continental tournament. The competition will be played from June 14th to July 14th in Germany.
Q: Runner-up in the European Championship in 2016 and eliminated in the next edition of that tournament in the round of 16 in 2021. After these two disappointments, do you have a thirst for revenge in this competition, given that it is the only major title you have not yet won as a coach?
A: “It’s true, I didn’t win the European Championship as a coach, but many coaches haven’t. If the demands are so high, it’s because France has evolved. After the world Cup, the most important thing is the European Championship. We will face this next tournament with ambition, but also with lucidity. I am fully aware that with everything we have done, expectations are increasing. But experience also reminds us that in a competition there are stages to be overcome. The fact that we are among the favorites, like the other teams, responds to a certain logic. But we don’t need to think about the finish line, the first thing is to think about the three group stage games, hoping we don’t have to suffer from injuries although there are always unforeseen events that need to be faced. I would like, like all my colleagues, for everyone to be available and in good shape, but that’s not something that’s going to happen. We’ll have to see how we do it.”
𝗟𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗮𝘁 𝗙𝗙𝗙 𝘅 𝗡𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗲! 🤝
The FFF is pleased to announce that 𝗡𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝗮 𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗲́𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗽𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗹 over the period of sports seasons 2026-2027 to 2033-2034! https://t.co/IYwPuxIn3B
— FFF (@FFF) April 30, 2024
Q: How do you evaluate your three opponents (Austria, Netherlands and Poland) in group D of the European Championship?
A: “I’m going to go against what they say. We’re in a difficult group. There’s been talk that it’s like starting with training, but Austria is a very solid team and they recently beat Germany. The Austrians are underestimated. The Netherlands are always a great football nation. When we beat them 4-0 in March 2023, they arrived weakened, without several important players. Poland is a strong team collectively and depends on players like (Robert) Lewandowski. think about each stage that we must overcome. The first is to pass the first phase, like other nations, we have the potential to go all the way, but we don’t have to think about a semi-final or a possible final. top ten in the FIFA rankings are in the Euro Cup”.
Q: You won’t be able to count on some of your players until June 3rd and the European Championship starts on June 14th. Does this pose a problem in preparing for the tournament?
A: “The official date set for clubs to release their players is June 3rd. I planned to have the first players on May 29th. Due to the end of the season and the final of the Champions League, only then will I have maybe half the cast available. Some clubs have scheduled excursions far away (like the Milan to Australia). Until the 2018 World Cup, we could offer tired players a recovery period during the first part of the concentration period, to do some concrete work. Now there is no more preparation time. This time, for example, we are obliged by the contracts signed by UEFA with the broadcasters to play two friendlies. Before, we only had to compete in one. We will recover players depending on how they are physically and also psychologically. If some play in the Champions League final (on June 1st), win or lose, we will have to adapt. Let’s get to the essentials. The most important thing is good physical shape. I repeat: I adapt. And to adapt as best as possible to a situation, I try to anticipate all scenarios.”
Q: Young Bradley Barcola is having a great end to the season in Paris Saint Germain. Could he play at Euro-2024 even though he was never called up to the France senior team?
A: “Of course I do. Mind you, I’m not saying I’m going to call him up. But I’m not going to give up right away just because I don’t have the habit of calling up players for the final stages that I haven’t called up before. I don’t work with that kind of rules. I’m not conservative and I don’t make decisions wondering what people will think of them. If I think I have to do something in the interests of France, I will do it even if it has to change.
Source: Gazetaesportiva
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