(Bordeaux) There will perhaps be more tension in nine days, when France faces Austria to begin a Euro which it hopes to win. But for now, on the eve of this France-Canada friendly in Bordeaux, the air seems light in those around the Blues.
Read ““Steps” for the Canadian National Team”
Antoine Griezmann’s press conference starts in advance. Almost unheard of in professional sport, as far as we are concerned. The Blues’ ace gunner gently answers the numerous questions asked of him by the equally numerous French journalists in the conference room of the Matmut Atlantique stadium. He smiles here, jokes there, and even displays a look of surprise when The Press reminds him that Canada has not faced France since the 1986 World Cup in Mexico.
“It’s not going to be easy,” he replied, humbly, when asked about the challenge that the maple leaf offers for Sunday’s meeting. We saw it at the World Cup. They have players who come more and more to Europe. This means that football is growing there, they have renowned players. It’s going to be a good test at the right time for us. To see if in the dough, in the speed of play, we are ready for the Euro. »
PHOTO JEAN-FRANÇOIS TEOTONIO, THE PRESS
Didier Deschamps and Antoine Griezmann
This is probably the only issue for the Blues in view of this match. Already winner of Luxembourg (3-0) last Tuesday, the team is making final adjustments before June 17.
“It’s the second and final rehearsal,” adds coach Didier Deschamps, who appears in front of the media a fraction of a second after Griezmann’s exit. He talks about “distributing the playing time” of his flock against Canada, “without taking any risks on some”, because the objective, he says, “is the match against Austria”.
But he is not saying this to disrespect Canada. On the contrary, he perhaps even gives him more than he needs.
“It’s a different opponent who has a lot more response [que le Luxembourg]particularly in the athletic field,” indicates Deschamps.
PHOTO JEAN-FRANÇOIS TEOTONIO, THE PRESS
Didier Deschamps
“Obviously, there are certain players who have passed and who are still in France,” adds the coach, world champion in 2018 and finalist in 2022, referring in particular to Jonathan David, Lille striker.
“That’s more what this team gives off. And I think they are preparing for the Copa Libertadores? »
The Copa América, we correct.
” Yes excuse me. There are so many competitions now. »
And, later, between two answers: “Ah, it’s squeaking here…”, he remarks, feeling the podium table on which he is leaning.
Light atmosphere, as we said.
Mbappé absent from training
Small burst of tension for training, all the same, around thirty minutes later. All the Blues players are on the pitch, except Adrien Rabiot, Aurélien Tchouaméni… and Kylian Mbappé.
Before the end of the 15 minutes open to the media, the spokesperson for the French team came to tell journalists that Mbappé was “spared”. He did not participate in the session.
PHOTO JEAN-FRANÇOIS TEOTONIO, THE PRESS
The Blues train at the Matmut Atlantique stadium in Bordeaux.
Get information from the newspaper The Team afterwards, which highlights that the new talisman of Real Madrid suffered a blow in Metz against Luxembourg. He also missed training last Sunday, but still played the entire game on Wednesday.
Since Deschamps is banking on consistency before the Euro, we do not expect Mbappé to be left out of the squad, but he could be rested for part of the match.
In any case, France has no shortage of experienced and dangerous attackers. In this regard, the word going around at the moment is that Olivier Giroud could play his last match in the Blues jersey on French soil, this Sunday. Giroud will join LAFC in MLS side AC Milan this summer, and the gunner is now 37 years old.
“I hope he will have a nice tribute tomorrow,” said Griezmann, who describes his friend “Olive” as an “old-fashioned number 9”. He is a person and a man who deserves it. Beyond the player he was, that he is. For me, he is the ideal player for a group, for a coach. He did everything. I have a lot of respect for him, for what he has done, and what he does on the pitch. And outside. »
Deschamps smilingly rejects the idea of a “tribute”.
“I have a collective, a common goal,” he says. […] Afterwards, we’ll say the last training, the last night, and each time we do what, a festival? We’re not here for that. But OK. I don’t think he particularly thinks about it either. »