Didier Deschamps CLODOGH KILCOYNE / PANORAMIC
The coach of the Blues revealed this Wednesday his group for the qualifying matches for Euro 2024 against Gibraltar and Greece scheduled for June 16 and 19.
Why the Gathering Was Moved Forward
“I have planned an individual program for 6 players on the list who have stopped this weekend. There will be physical, desired and desirable maintenance work to make up for the time between their last match and the summons to Clairefontaine. I brought the meeting forward to Friday noon to have almost the entire physical group, only Areola (West Ham) is concerned by the Europa League Conference and will join us on Monday noon. All the others will be there on Friday. »
The difficulty of the June sequences
« It’s always a very complicated period, even more so this year after the World Cup. Physically or mentally, the season was exhausting, there was a need to recover. It’s a period when the players are on vacation, except for the internationals who have to push them back. We must confirm what we did in March on these two matches (two wins). It is never easy to manage. In picking the 23, I basically wanted three options at each position and I built this list that way. I want options that hold up and not pick up players who are on vacation in flip flops with the sand under their feet. Versatility is important, it’s nice for any trainer. »
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Lacazette absent from the list
“Good for him, he is playing more than last season. Congratulations to him and his club (Olympique Lyonnais). Alex has always had that efficiency. He is having a very good season. He is one of the preselected, after there is also competition and with players who have met and continue to meet expectations. I’m not going to put 4 or 5 players in the same position. We continue to follow him, but there are boxes, and each position is doubled. Today, with Giroud and Kolo Muani, they are the two in this position in the France team. »
The hierarchy among goalkeepers
“The three (Maignan, Areola, Samba) are confirmed, there has been a radical change with the stoppage of Hugo and Mandanda. The three called in March, because of what they did, are still there today. This does not prevent us from looking in case, to have other options. Alban Lafont has already come, even if it’s more complicated for him at the moment (Nantes). There are also the Hopes, we look at all that. »
Pogba still injured
“I exchanged a lot with Paul, he had a very difficult season. Off the field and repeated injuries. He had come back and had a new problem. On his ability to return physically and mentally, there is no problem. Of course it came into my thinking. Paul has been an essential and fundamental player for years. Will it be (in the future)? I don’t have the answer and I wish her. He was not there at the World Cup, others took over. I hope he will go back to another season where he will find all his athletic abilities. »
K. Thuram present… with the Hopes
“I’ve always acted like that, we talk a lot with Sylvain (Ripoll). When there is a competition like this, it is normal that he has the best team at his disposal. It’s a European championship (June 21-July 8), I’ll watch it. »
The enthusiasm around the Blues
“It’s a great joy to see the attachment and the proximity of the French team with its public (sold out match on June 19 against Greece). The Stade de France is 80,000, few selections play in this type of enclosure. All the better for us. It’s linked to what has been done in recent years and the World Cup. People enjoy coming to see us. It’s beautiful and the players need it. It is their merit to have created this link and that young and old identify themselves. This does not mean that we are going to tell it to each other. We must maintain this, grow it and what happened in March, very well, but I still have as many demands on both steps to keep. »
