EURO 2024: “YOU DON’T WIN MATCHES BY DEFENDING”, DESCHAMPS’S STATEMENT ON THE GAME BEFORE FRANCE-PORTUGAL

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At a time when criticism is mounting about the French team’s play during Euro 2024, Didier Deschamps was asked about some of the highlights of his tenure at the helm of Les Bleus. The French coach took the opportunity to put an end to rumours about his overly defensive tactics.

World and European champion as captain of the French team, Didier Deschamps now dreams of such a double as coach of the Blues . After the 2018 World Cup, the technician hopes to win Euro 2024. Qualified for the quarter-finals after a controlled match against Belgium (1-0), the group led by Didier Deschamps will challenge Portugal on Friday. A shock during which the game of the Blues will be dissected again.

Asked before the Euro by AFP about the highlights of his adventure at the head of the French team, Didier Deschamps defended his record and especially his tactical choices against Germany at the Euro in 2016 (2-0) and against Belgium, two years later at the 2018 World Cup (1-0). Two matches marked by French successes.

“These two matches have nothing to do with each other, except that they give access to a final,” the French coach quickly launched in an interview published this Wednesday. Before denying a defensive leg on his part: “You don’t win matches by defending, it’s too reductive. I always start with the idea of ​​putting the team that is most dangerous for the opponent.”

“Certainly not what I initially asked them”

Sometimes mocked for the lack of ambition of the Blues, not at all lucky this Monday against Belgium with 20 shots and only two on target , Didier Deschamps insisted: it is not the place that pushes his team to play like this. In any case, during the demonstrations of efficiency against Germany in 2016 and especially against Belgium in 2018, he was not responsible.

“It was perhaps more specific to the players. I’m not going to go against their wishes if they feel good playing low,” Didier Deschamps assured AFP. “But that’s certainly not what I asked them to do initially.”

The French coach’s comments corroborate those of his former goalkeeper Hugo Lloris . Also questioned about the duel against the Red Devils in 2018, the man who was then the captain of the Blues revealed that the block had been chosen by the players and in particular under the leadership of Antoine Griezmann . The world champion goalkeeper even shared an anecdote: “To be in the know, he will always blame us for defending too deep.”