Europe 1 with AFP 9:15 p.m., November 26, 2022

After the victory of the French team over Denmark (2-1) synonymous with qualification for the round of 16, Didier Deschamps, the coach of the Blues, particularly praised the role played by Antoine Griezmann and Kylian Mbappé, author of a double in an interview with "AFP".

"A collective strength emerges outside and it shows on the field," coach Didier Deschamps was satisfied on Saturday after the World Cup victory against Denmark (2-1) thanks to Kylian Mbappé, "an extraordinary player" .

Journalist

: For months you have been hearing about the curse of the defending champions, eliminated in the first round of the last three editions.

Was that a driving force for your group?

and on the ground it also shows.

We will need that for what lies ahead."

Journalist 

: Can you summarize Kylian Mbappé's performance?

Didier Deschamps

: "Kylian is an extraordinary player. He has this ability to be decisive, to make a difference, even if the opponents make arrangements. The fact of also having other players around him who bring danger, this allows him to be a little more liberated. And beyond his enormous qualities, he is part of a collective, he makes a lot of effort. He has set himself this goal of the Coupe du world and the France team will need a very good Kylian. He's a leader. (...) Kylian is not going to speak, it's not really his thing, but because of what he's a locomotive. N'Golo Kanté, we didn't hear him in 2018, but that didn't stop him (from being a leader on the pitch)."

Journalist

: Why did you establish Jules Koundé in place of Benjamin Pavard as right-back?

And what did you think of Raphaël Varane's return to competition?

Didier Deschamps

hadn't played in a little over a month.

I know that in the last twenty minutes there is always a risk, that's why I took it out.

He almost missed this World Cup, he knows it, today he is there and we will need him."