He presented himself this Tuesday evening in the press room with the feeling of accomplished duty. From an accounting point of view, its undefeated blues in their last 25 qualifying games for the euro and the World Cup (20 vicarities 5 draws) sign a full box in these 2026 World Cup qualifiers with 6 points in two games. But the content of this success against Iceland (2-1), given in pain, did not escape Didier Deschamps.
What assessment do you draw from this match?
DIDIER DESCHAMPS. Very positive, we take 6 points we cannot do more. We had a difficult match tonight. I expected to have athletic respondent opposite. We were faced with a very low block. We could have scored more and the only error we make we are punished. It would have taken more speed and percussion in the transmission so as not to allow Iceland to be so grouped together. Ten, we had to make the efforts.
What did you think of the whistles against you before kick-off and then those addressed to Rabiot when he got into play?
Mine, I did not hear them. I was in the locker room when it happened. It may be the same people who whistled Adri (Editor’s note: Rabiot). Me that does not pose a particular problem to me. Adri is a player from the French team and it is unacceptable that it can happen. He is strong enough, he returned them to the last action (a decisive tackle). But it doesn’t have to be. If I have to take into account in my criteria who plays where, at which opponent, whether you are in the park or elsewhere … Even if it is a minority, no player should undergo this. He is a player from the French team ”.
How did you judge Marcus Thuram’s match?
He did not do everything but he did it, in a register that is not completely his. He had a lot of strikes and he was rather interesting taking into account that he is used to playing in another position.
And how did you find Kylian Mbappé?
He’s good in his head and he has legs. It makes a lot of effort. It is effective, because it has scored goals on both games. He is a good leader for the group. He has freedom in the game, a good understanding with Michael (olise). Kylian is in very good shape.
By the way, he exceeds your former partner Thierry Henry in the classification of the scorers of the Blues (52) at only 26 years old…
It’s Kylian, everything goes very quickly with him. Titi was a fabulous attacker worldwide. Kylian does everything to put the cursor ever higher. We are talking about an extraordinary player but who is part of the collective.
Do you want Michael Olise for his error on the Icelandic goal?
It is a technical error, but we cannot blame it. He is radiant, he was a little heckling it happens. But I am very satisfied. He stores confidence and has a very good relationship with the attackers.
Do you feel lucky to have seen the equalizing goal of the Icelandic canceled?
The arbitrator made his decision. It is favorable to us. I understand that it could have bored my Icelandic counterpart.
