For the last friendly match before the World Cup for his France team, Didier Deschamps had reason to be satisfied. Tuesday March 29, the Blues outclassed South Africa (5-0) at Stade Pierre-Mauroy (Villeneuve-d’Ascq) thanks to a fantastic Kylian Mbappé.
Involved in the five goals of the evening with the added bonus of two goals and an assist, the Parisian was the big player of the evening. Four days earlier, he had been absent against Côte d’Ivoire (2-1) due to an ENT infection. “I told you he was radiant, it’s the reality, his legs were on fire because he would have liked to play the first game”savored Didier Deschamps in a press conference after the victory.
“His ability to score and accelerate places him among the outstanding players.”
Didier Deschampsat a press conference
Above all, the coach particularly appreciated the striker’s collective sense. “He has the intelligence to be part of a collective on and off the pitch. So much the better that the France team can have a player like him. He knows it, it’s not Kylian and the others but Kylian with the others.” A feeling shared by the PSG player at the microphone of TF1.“I feel very good on the pitch. I had a lot of fun playing with my friends, I think we gave it. We made two victories on the rally so we are happy.”
Beyond the performance of Kylian Mbappé, France was able to create many chances against an opponent grouped in its camp. An adversary profile that has not always pleased the Habs. “The potential of the France team has been realized on the pitch. We have already faced teams that defend well, in number, but we have the ability to create many chances and scorerejoiced Didier Deschamps. I like it.”
Against South Africa, the coach was also able to appreciate the work of his pistons (Jonathan Clauss on the right and Lucas Digne on the left), very important in the 3-4-1-2 system he installed. The two were very restless on their side, in particular the Lensois who nevertheless celebrated his first tenure in the France team. “He has a lot of dynamism, he is able to defend, he was frequently in an outflanking position, he tried a volleySatisfied Didier Deschamps. I told him not to play with the handbrake. I prefer that he does things and that it does not go well. He understood it well and all the players did everything to put him at ease.”
On the other hand, the coach did not appreciate the welcome given by the Lille public to the right side of RC Lens, the rival club in the region. “I find it regrettable, to put it mildly, what happened in the first halflaunched the 1998 world champion. It goes against the France team. That didn’t stop him from playing. As the game went on, those who stupidly protested with whistles softened their impact. Thanks to what he was doing on the field. It is his merit.”
Thanks to his match and especially his very good second period, during which his technical waste was reduced, Jonathan Clauss managed to turn part of the stadium in his favor. It is for this reason that the coach decided to replace him. “Afterwards, on the whistles, it should be a non-issue. It has no place in a stadium. That’s why I took Jonathan out. I was convinced that the whole stadium was going to do it. greethe explained before recalling his annoyance.
“I can understand a rivalry between clubs, the derbies. But I advocate unity with our players from different backgrounds. They are not supporters, these people. To talk about it is to give them even more importance. They have none.”
Didier Deschampsat a press conference
“These matches will serve us for the month of June. There will be a balance sheet”, he assured at a press conference. In the end, Didier Deschamps was indeed able to learn many lessons from the two friendly successes.
In particular concerning the return of Olivier Giroud, still a scorer on Tuesday and who is approaching the record of Thierry Henry (48 against 51 goals in selection). “I had a discussion with him as with many, about the present. The future, he doesn’t know, I don’t know, it will depend on a lot of things.kicked the Basque. He confirmed that he had this ability to score. It’s very good for him and the group, we’ll see for the month of June.”