The time for Euro 2024 is approaching for Didier Deschamps’ French team. The first step for the coach will be the announcement of the names selected for the German competition (June 14 – July 14), a list which will be revealed on Thursday May 16. But with how many players, when UEFA must ratify the final number, which will oscillate between 23 and 26? The 2018 world champion technician is awaiting this decision but repeats in an interview published this Wednesday by AFP that he will not take 26 players “just to fill boxes”.
“If I take 26 players, it’s because I think it’s useful for the France team. Adapting is my watchword. I will therefore adapt to the decisions made and other parameters,” explains the technician. Before clarifying his thoughts: “I am not anti 24, 25 or 26 players. We exchanged our views during the UEFA seminar with the other coaches. (…) Taking three additional players has implications for logistics and management, unless we are allowed eight changes. »
Among the big questions on the “DD” list, there is that of the presence of Bradley Barcola, PSG striker in great shape but never called up to the Blues. “It’s not because I’m not used to calling up players in the final phase that I haven’t selected before that I’m going to deprive myself of it,” says Didier Deschamps, still at AFP. I am not conservative (…) Since March, he has confirmed his good dispositions. But we don’t discover it either. With Guy (Stephan his deputy), we have followed him closely since his debut at the highest level with Lyon. »
Enough to feed the hopes of the 21-year-old young man, in the semi-final of the Champions League with PSG against Dortmund. Asked about another case, that of Olivier Giroud, recent recruit from Los Angeles FC (in MLS in the United States), Deschamps half-heartedly confirmed that the top scorer in the history of the Blues (57 goals in 131 caps ) would be good at Euro 2024. “Olivier made a sporting choice and a lifestyle choice (…) But that does not change my choices immediately since he is at AC Milan until the end of the season,” concludes the coach.
