Didier Deschamps during France-Sweden, November 17, 2020. -

FRANCK FIFE / AFP

  • The France team beat Sweden on Tuesday evening in the League of Nations.

  • After the meeting, Didier Deschamps took stock of the streak of eight games played since early September.

  • The coach made a point of recalling that his team, and particularly his executives, deserved consideration for what they had done, despite a few small cuts.

At the Stade de France,

One last victory for the road, and the opportunity to put some things back on track.

Didier Deschamps was in good shape on Tuesday evening after the success of the Blues against Sweden to punctuate a good group stage in the League of Nations.

Fortunately, moreover, since it is now our only interlocutor at the end of the matches, while waiting for the reopening of the mixed zones, perhaps, one day.

The Blues end the year with a victory thanks to the indestructible Giroud via @ 20minutesSport https://t.co/ppspMowYZJ

- 20 Minutes Sport (@ 20minutesSport) November 17, 2020

“We took 16 points out of 18, no team in Europe did better, and we had in our group the vice world champion [Croatia] and the reigning European champion [Portugal], recalled the coach at a press conference.

Everything was not perfect, we are not going to boast, but I always try to be clear on the situation, and here you have to appreciate what we have been able to do.

"

A way for DD to send everyone back to their 22's, after having read and heard a lot of criticism on the collective or targeting a few players since the start of the school year at the beginning of September.

Well, that's how we understood it.

He does not say that all were not deserved, he was the first to blow his players' lungs after Finland or to recognize the gaps displayed in the first leg against Portugal, but he believes that observers are getting carried away. always too fast with this team and the executives who make it up.

Obviously, Tuesday was a good night to take out the Giroud card.

The coach seemed on the verge of asking how dare to ask a question about the Chelsea striker when he himself had said the day before that his situation was "complicated".

Author of a double, Gire has again proved its resilience and DD pulled out the screws when he was asked if the player had been stung by his non-tenure in Portugal.

“Why question what he is?

"

“It doesn't work like that with Olivier.

The pikes come from outside, not from me.

I discuss with him, he is aware of the situation, which does not allow him to arrive with us in good conditions.

But that doesn't call into question what he did.

It's a bit of a special case, I have the impression that every time he comes he has to prove himself.

We are often too unfair to him.

When he is not good, he is not good, but from there to saying that it is over… Why question what he is, what he was able to do, what he is still able to do?

"

Questioned at the microphone of M6 after the meeting, the person concerned seemed above all that.

“A feeling of revenge?

No, not at all, never.

I'm used to being a bit heckled, it's part of my experience, of my career, it gives me even more strength.

I have no problem with that.

"Usual response from him, which we hear about every six months when his place is questioned.

Olivier Giroud (2015,2016,2017,2019,2020) becomes the third player in history to finish top scorer of the calendar year on 5 occasions with the @ equipedefrance after Paul Nicolas and Michel Platini.

#FRASWE

- Football Stats (@Statsdufoot) November 17, 2020

Deschamps then tackled the case of Pogba, who has not started for a good month at Manchester United and who started this rally upside down against Finland.

“This first game was useful to him, anyway.

But when you see what he did against Portugal and tonight [Tuesday]… I'm not targeting anyone [actually yes, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer] but Paul, I know him, he has pride, pride, and especially talent, asserts DD.

When it is necessary to defend, it defends, when it is necessary to project itself it projects itself.

And if it is necessary to make the decisive pass, it is there too.

He is a top level player.

I hope it will be useful to him when he returns to the club.

"

The coach continued with Kimpembe, whom we apparently came across when "he missed a match with PSG" but who has shown his value in these last two games for the Blues.

“We must not stigmatize a match, he summarizes.

It can happen to have a hole, a blow less well, but that does not call into question everything.

At least for me.

"

"When the executives are there, they know why"

It is still a bit of the game of every international match, precisely, to see those who answered and those who missed an opportunity.

Especially in a team as competitive as that of France, a few months away from a major international competition.

It is not a question of burying anyone, but of observing the forces that sometimes move within the group.

Our French team file

In any case, for Deschamps, the base does not move and he wanted to let it be known at the end of this last match before the list for the month of March, which will mark the first step towards the Euro.

“They are top players, and they have a great mindset.

The executives have an important role, even if occasionally they are less well in the club, when they are there they know why, he explains.

They say it often, it's a bit like a family.

They have this collective strength, and the quality is there, with internal emulation.

The state of mind does not win games, but when we do not have it, as it can still happen to us, we are called to order.

"

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