“If I take 26 players, it is because I will consider that it is useful for the French team. Adapting is my key word. I will therefore adapt to the decisions taken and to ‘other settings’, explains the technician, referring to a meeting where a narrow majority of national coaches spoke in favor of an extension to 26 players. UEFA has yet to ratify this decision.
“I am not against 24, 25 or 26 players. We exchanged our points of view during the UEFA seminar with the other coaches. Those who advocated maintaining 23 put forward admissible arguments like those who wanted a move to 26 “he explains.
More “statistics show that on average, in a major competition, four players do not play at all and two or three play ten minutes, maximum. This is an average for all national teams, not just France”adds “DD”.
“I spoke about it” with the coach of Argentina who won the Copa America at 26 (Lionel Scaloni). He told me: Never again, even if I won, never again at 26″smiles the 2018 world champion.
“Going to 26 just to fill boxes doesn’t interest me. I’m also not going to be smart and take 23 players and then find myself in difficulty because I didn’t take enough.”adds Deschamps.
“Taking three additional players has implications for logistics and management, unless we are allowed eight changes.”he concludes.
