Deschamps wary of “defensive Poland, with offensive assets” | 2022 FIFA World Cup

To reach a place in the quarter-finals at the World Cup, Poland must pass defending champion France on Sunday. “We have to put pressure on the French and hope that they will start making mistakes. Only then will we have a chance,” said national coach Czeslaw Michniewicz at the press conference.

“I looked for weaknesses in the French team, but did not find them,” Michniewicz confessed. “That doesn’t mean they can’t make mistakes. We have to force them to. It will be a very different match from the group stage. There will be a lot more intensity. We have to evaluate what went wrong against Argentina (0-2) and do better.

“And if we can beat the world champion, we can become world champion ourselves,” he concluded ambitiously.

Hugo Lloris will be in goal for the French for the 142nd time in the 1/8th final against Poland on Sunday. With that he equals record international Lilian Thuram. “That’s something I’m very proud of,” said the 35-year-old Tottenham goalkeeper. “But a day before a 1/8th final, that is of secondary importance. I will only really enjoy that record when we have had a successful tournament.”

This World Cup is already being called the tournament of surprises. “I cannot predict whether there will be any. I can only conclude that it is no longer possible to grow quietly in a tournament. Every team must be there immediately.”

“And little brothers? They are gone now. Everyone has players in major leagues. Some teams also benefit from a huge wave of popularity here. That gives them wings.”

At the European Championship, France surprisingly went out in the 1/8th finals against Switzerland (3-3, penalties: 5/4). “Of course we don’t want to experience that again. But I don’t look at the past, that makes no sense. Besides the fact that it was also an eighth final, there is no point of comparison.”

Defending champion France will face Poland in the 1/8th finals on Sunday. “Not an easy task”, says national coach Didier Deschamps. “Defensively, the Poles are very strong. They like nothing more. But they can also do more than that. With Robert Lewandowski they have a goal machine in the front.”

“We have to keep Lewandowski off the ball. The less he has the leather in his possession, the less he can do with it. Their goalkeeper, Wojciech Szczesny, is another asset. Scoring against the Poles is no sinecure. “

“Until now, only the Argentinians succeeded in that task, but we have the talent to do it too. Only talent is not enough in this one. We have to stay focused and keep calm. With the 1/8th finals, a new competition begins. The interests are getting bigger, the opponents are stronger: that creates more stress.”