Bucharest (AFP)

"From the first matches it will be at our best level": the French coach Didier Deschamps set the tone on Saturday after the draw of the Euro-2020 which has awarded the Blues a group ultra raised with Portugal, holding the title , and Germany, 2014 world champion.

Q: Oliver Bierhoff, the general manager of the German team, says that you are favorites ...

A: "Yes, Fernando Santos (coach of Portugal, Ed) also said that there were two favorites and a suitor.I will say what we all have the same goal is to continue the competition , to qualify and if possible to be first, but Joachim Löw (the coach of Germany) think the same thing, Fernando Santos too ... Obviously there will be one who will have the first place. Afterwards, you have to know if there will be two or three qualified in the group, it's more complicated to have three qualified because in our group there may be more points that will be distributed. important in the direct confrontations especially, knowing that for our last opponent, we can have the best team of barrages (Iceland, Ed), we can also play Hungary, in Budapest at home. Romania and there we would recover an adversary who, on paper, would be of less value. "

Q: So much opposition, what does it change in preparation?

A: "Even on a World Cup, there is always a little more time, we say that strong nations can grow in power, but there are some great European and world powers that have not passed first. turn (in 2018) There, from our opponents, from the first matches it will be there, at our best level and take the most points possible.For the preparation, it will not change much, if not We know we will start on the 16th (June in Munich). "

Q: The only good news of the draw, is it not to have avoided a long trip to Baku?

A: "It's good for us, for our fans and for you too (the media, Editor's note), there will be less costs for your companies regarding travel (laughs)! Even if we will have two consecutive matches in Budapest in in the space of 4 days, we have time to think about it, there was a good chance that we would do our preparation for Clairefontaine, that will be the case. "

Q: For friendly matches in March, which opponent's profile are you looking for?

A: "I'm going to talk with my president (Noël Le Graët), I think we're going to play Spain in Spain and England in England to get ready (ironic)." Finding opponents is not easy , between those we could play, those who do not want to play against us and those concerned by the roadblocks.What I can tell you is that the two friendlies in March we will play on a Friday and a Monday, but I do not know against whom. "

Q: Your legendary draw luck has left you this time, right?

A: "Not abandoned, luck or not luck, when I come to a draw I'm always relaxed, it's not going to make me lose my smile."

Q: It's easier for players to get motivated against Germany and Portugal. Is not this a bad thing for a good?

A: "It's exciting for everyone because they are big posters and every point is important in the pool matches, they will be even bigger in a group where there are these three teams. and the second, it will condition the rest of the competition. "

Interview collected in mixed zone.

© 2019 AFP