“We know that we are the team to beat,” declares Guy Stéphan, assistant coach of the French football team

Ahead of two friendly matches, the faithful lieutenant of Didier Deschamps, assistant coach of the Blues since 2012, confides in franceinfo about his longevity, the upcoming Euro and Kylian Mbappé.

It’s the start of the 2024 school year for the French football team. Didier Deschamps’ men will meet for two friendly matches against Germany (Saturday March 23 in Lyon) and Chile (Tuesday March 26 in Marseille). Three months before Euro 2024 in Germany (June 14-July 14), his faithful deputy since 2012, Guy Stéphan, spoke with franceinfo journalists on Wednesday March 20.

franceinfo: Your first competition alongside Didier Deschamps was the World Cup in Brazil in 2014. 10 years later, is the pleasure still the same?

Guy Stéphan: Yes, I think it’s simply called passion. I am lucky to have made my passion my profession. And then every day, I am happy to experience that.

Is the complicity with Didier Deschamps still the same?

Oh yes ! It’s a bond that began in 2009 at Olympique de Marseille. Three years, Olympique de Marseille. And in the French team, since 2012. We know when it starts, but we don’t know when it will stop. And Didier, I had already known him in 2000 when we were European champions with Roger Lemerre. It’s a bond that lasts, which has certainly weathered some storms… But above all a lot of joy, a lot of happiness.

Don’t you miss the role of number one?

When I was banging against the wall of my parents’ garage in the 60s, I never imagined one day that I would help the French team win a World Cup, that I would experience such wonderful moments. So yes, I had opportunities to be number one. But for twelve years, I have been training the best players in the world, so I can hardly find better. When we have tasted the very high level… I appreciate the work I do every day.

We are three months away from the Euro in Germany, how do you feel about this French team?

It’s difficult to predict the future, but in any case, it’s a group with many qualities and above all a state of mind, a cohesion and a joy of living which are expressed on a daily basis during gatherings. So there is obviously optimism. But we also know that we are the team to beat, since we are vice-world champion.

That’s the difficulty, but it’s also very pleasant to prepare for a competition like this, even if obviously the players will return to their club. We will see them again. What we hope above all with Didier and the entire staff is that there will be freshness. Physical and mental freshness, because it is extremely important for a major competition. But we don’t know that today.

But in your head, do you already have your group for the Euro?

I’m going to answer “yes” for several reasons. One of the reasons is that there are two close matches. There are simply three days between the Germany match and the Chile match. Didier has already announced it, there will probably be a lot of changes, both during the match in the first match and for those who will start for the second. It’s difficult to get everyone to play at 23 players, but it will be the opportunity for the vast majority to express themselves. There are players we haven’t seen for a long time, like Moussa Diaby or Matteo Guendouzi who are coming back.

A gathering without Antoine Griezmann [blessé] That must be weird to you?

Didier has often said it, there is a hard core. Between 17 and 18 players, who should be there unless there is a physical problem. Then, you have to continue to build the group, or double the positions so that cohesion is still there. Didier has also often said it, it’s not necessarily the 23 best who are there, it’s 23 players, obviously very good, who can live together for thirty, forty days. In 2018, we lived together for 55 days. So you have to be able to go to the end and keep this cohesion, keep this camaraderie and at the same time keep this strength. So that the entire team is able to go as far as possible.

“He left to make a huge career”

Guy Stéphan on Warren-Zaire Emery

at franceinfo

In midfield, there is a player who is experiencing meteoric progress, it is Warren Zaire-Emery. Have you ever seen this?

No, no (laughs). Doing that at 17… Well, he just turned 18, but he was already an international at 17. He’s a midfielder with a lot of play, capable of “clawing”. When I say “to claw”, it means being able to get the ball from the opponent’s feet, to make oriented checks, to direct quickly towards the front. In addition, he is a very pleasant person, someone who listens. He left to make a huge career.

And an already mature player…

Yes yes. And he’s still a high school student! He’s going to pass his baccalaureate. Olivier Giroud [37 ans] could almost be his father (laughs). There you go, it shows the age difference and despite that, there is a bond and there are a lot of exchanges between the players.

The personal situation of Kylian Mbappé [qui quittera le Paris Saint-Germain en fin de saison] can it disrupt the collective in the French team?

No, that’s a bit boring. “So, Kylian, that’s it, have you chosen?” He has just spent seven years at Paris Saint-Germain and it seems that he has made a decision (laughs). I don’t know where to go yet, but in any case, he is calm and he scores in every match. Not every game, but almost. He is an extraordinary player.

He plays a little less with PSG, is that good news for you, the assistant to the France team?

Why not ? (laughs) In any case, he is a captain with us who is very unifying. He is a captain who is very pleasant in the group, who is also a good listener, who also talks a lot with young and old. There is no change in his behavior.