Reykjavik (AFP)
Despite the absentees (Lloris, Pogba, Mbappé), the Blues will show Friday in Reykjavik "a conquering state of mind", according to the captain of the Blues Raphael Varane. The coach Didier Deschamps is wary of the "live game, very dangerous" Icelanders, undefeated at home in qualifying for more than six years.
. In Iceland, who rubs it
Didier Deschamps (coach): "This team has a different behavior when playing at home, it is much more powerful.This went well in the first leg (4-0 in March, ed) but the context is different. This team always has a lot of soul, but when she plays here she still has a little more. "
Raphaël Varane (defender): Iceland unbeaten at home in qualifying since 2013, "of course it's an important fact, it means it's hard to win here, against an opponent who is at home very performance. "
. "Physical fight"
Deschamps: "It's a team that has an important athletic ability with a rather direct game, very dangerous, it's on the stopped phases that they score the most goals and they have good players like Gylfi Sigurdsson who is Above the average technically and is able to score, and score. (...) I'm never worried, I do not want to boast either. "
Varane: "We expect a physical fight." Among the strengths of Iceland are the kicks stopped, we will try to answer present in this area of the game When we have the ball we will try to hurt the opponent, redouble the passes and play fast forward when you can. "
. "Same requirement" despite absentees
Deschamps: "It is detrimental as a whole (...) but there are other players who are there and used to have this role (leader): Raph (Varane), Steve ( Mandanda), Blaise (Matuidi), Olivier (Giroud), players who have experience, I would rather have everyone, but I have full confidence in the players who are there. "
Varane: "We have a team with talented players and also players of character.It is collectively that we must bring a positive state of mind, conquering.We have a fight that awaits us, everyone must bring his stone to the building (...) We have a young group but who starts to know each other, we have to keep the same level of play, the same requirement, it allows other players to show their qualities and to draw the group up ".
. October, month "hinge"
Deschamps: "My motivation is to make sure that after this match, we have a decisive match on Monday (against Turkey) .These are the two direct confrontations, knowing the ranking the match of tomorrow is very important."
Varane: "This course is a pivotal moment, decisive in qualifying.We have the motivation to win but we respect our opponent and we know very well that it will be difficult.Do not underestimate the difficulty of the match. of tomorrow".
. Giroud, a "hard worker"
Deschamps: "In absolute terms, he has 90 minutes in his legs, depending on the rhythm of the match, but on the first match, it is not so problematic.After, on the web, it is a question. He feels good, he has no problem, nothing replaces the sequence of matches, but he makes sure to compensate with extra work. "
Varane: "Compared to what I saw, Olivier is physically ready, he is a hard worker, when he has less time to play, he does what he needs to be fit".
. Hernandez "available to begin"
Deschamps: "He's ready, he's feeling good, he's feeling good, he's been taken away gradually, he's free enough compared to what he's got, he's available, and then, to play 90 minutes, he must already start ... I do not know what will happen in this game but it is available to start it. "
Varane: "He has good sensations, he feels good and it's the most important in this kind of situation, the feeling is good so I think he'll be fit, but at least he felt good yesterday. was able to train normally. "
Interviewed at a press conference.
© 2019 AFP