This is the end of this very dense press conference
Deschamps tackled all the subjects: Benzema, Pavard, the World Cup final, the departure of Le Graët and even of Corinne Deacon, Diodier Deschamps did not escape on any subject, even if he knew how to handle the language of wood with great dexterity. Next meeting of the Blues Monday for the arrival at Clairefontaine of the 18 selected.
On the French women’s team and the players’ criticism of Corinne Deacon
“I don’t have the ins and outs. I don’t know if there was a good or less bad decision. But as a coach, coach, on form, it bothers me. I can’t say more.”
On the absences of Guendouzi and Disasi
“These are choices to be made, no one is condemned. This is the case with Benjamin Pavard. Perhaps those I am calling today would have preferred to be with us three months ago. It is always compared to the competition in this position, but nothing is definitive. It is the choice of the moment which does not mean that it will be the choice of June.
On the relationship with Le Graët who prolonged it. A new deal?
“No, I’m not apprehensive. I have a key word, I adapt. Even if I obviously discussed and met President Philippe Diallo many times. I adapt. We have a common interest, that the France team is doing well. It’s not something negative that weighs on me, I take note and I adapt.”
Looking for real full-backs?
“It happens regularly that centrals find themselves on the side. It’s been a while since the right-back position has been judged in relation to the contribution of the players on the offensive level. But they are also in a defensive line. Having both, that’s the ideal.”
Why now for Fofana
“I never made a choice to prevent a player from taking that freedom. It happened there, it could have happened before, he had a serious injury too. This is the moment. Jonathan Bamba has chosen another country than France. They have this freedom there, they can take it. It is the goal of any coach to have the best team available.”
What role for Olivier Giroud?
“Like everyone else, they are supposed to be able to start. Olivier has a long experience. As long as he maintains his level of performance with his club and remains eligible for selection, he is there. We have two games in three days against to a team that will not play three days before. He is the age he is, he is not young, he can be a starter as he can be brought to turn as in his club.
On Pavard’s selection
“I’ve already talked a lot with him before, during and after the World Cup too. We’re not going to go back on it, it’s a thing of the past. The importance is what’s ahead. With his club he maintains a high level of performance. There, it is first of all for a right-back position.”
On the absences of Pogba and Kanté
“I’m not afraid to see them again, but it’s been several months since we’ve seen them on the pitch with injuries. I always remain positive and knowing NG and Paul, they will do everything to become competitive again.”
Talks with Ripoll about hopes?
“I have a lot of exchanges with Sylvain. We continued to discuss, even again this morning. I would make sure that for the competition, the European championship, to make sure that he has the best possible team available. Every player is a special case.”
A rotating captaincy?
“It can be a choice, but I prefer to have a responsibility between captain and vice-captain, but I prefer to have a clear choice.”
On the World Cup final
“It’s not trivial, it’s a World Cup final. When you miss out on the supreme title, it’s never easy. But it’s the high level. Feeding on this experience, but we does not live with the past either. There is a popular enthusiasm, and I thank all the people who have met me and who have had a word. It is necessarily useful but we must not tell ourselves that we are already qualified for the Euros because we were in the final of the World Cup. We must not rest on our laurels.”
Adrien Rabiot candidate for the captaincy?
“Even if he has some experience, we know each other well too, as he is, he has a possible form of leadership, but the captaincy, I don’t know if he really wants it deep down. Let him stay as it is already it will be very good.”
On the Stade de France which could be sold
“This stadium represents a lot of things: it was inaugurated by the Blues, there was an important title. But then in terms of profitability, there are contracts, I don’t take care of all that. I have a attachment to the Stade de France, it’s the stadium of the France team, will that always be the case? I don’t have the answer and neither do you. And it’s not my will and again less than my decision.”
We come back to the Benzema case
“The disturbances, we have experienced… You will not get a word, more from me in relation to what I answered to the first question. I took the floor to say what happened passed and now it’s behind.”
On the Benzema case: “For me, the subject is closed”
“I don’t watch social networks. I had to express myself recently to say what happened. For me, this is a closed subject. I don’t have to comment on anything again, afterwards, it’s up to you to debate.”
What criteria to be a captain?
“There are some that I consider possible. Kylian is one of them. It will go through discussions with them before I make my decision. There is a responsibility in relation to being captain, with a little more obligations important, but I want to have this discussion internally before I make my decision.”
Camavinga among defenders and Griezmann among forwards?
“For Antoine, no, he’s an attacking midfielder, a striker. Eduardo I put him there because on this rally, I consider him as a left-back. Obviously, like other players, he has interesting versatility, but on this gathering, he leads me to have more guarantees on this position there. He will not be surprised, I have already had discussions with him before and recently in relation to this use.
The list
Guardians: Alphonse Areola (West Ham), Mike Maignan (AC Milan), Brice Samba (Lens)
Defenders: Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid), Wesley Fofana (Chelsea), Theo Hernandez (AC Milan), Ibrahima Konaté (Liverpool), Jules Koundé (FC Barcelone), Benjamin Pavard (Bayern Munich), William Rompia (Arsenal), Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich)
Environments : Youssouf Fofana (Monaco), Adrien Rabiot (Juventus), Aurélien Tchouaméni (Real Madrid), Jordan Veretout (OM), Khéphren Thuram (Nice).
Forwards: Kingsley Coman (Bayern Munich), Olivier Giroud (AC Milan), Antoine Griezmann (Atlético), Randal Kolo Muani (Frankfort), Kylian Mbappé (PSG), Marcus Thuram (Mönchengladbach), Moussa Diaby (Leverkusen).
A preliminary statement from DD
“A moved and sincere thought for Claue Simonet, his friends and his family. He was a great leader of French football.”
Only a few minutes before the arrival of Deschamps
First post-World Cup press conference for the coach of the Blues, eagerly awaited given all the controversies that are shaking French football.
RMC Sport Info: Khephren Thuram and Wesley Fofana called for the first time
Their names had been spinning for a few days, it is now certain: Khephren Thuram, the Nice midfielder, brother of Marcus and son of Lilian Thuram will be called up for the France team for the first time by Didier Deschamps.
He will be accompanied by Chelsea defender Wesley Fofana, also courted by Côte d’Ivoire.
FH
Houssem Aouar formalizes his arrival in the Algerian national team
The news was rumored behind the scenes, it is now official and confirmed by the principal concerned. Houssem Aouar chose to represent Algeria. The Lyon midfielder, however, has a selection with the Blues in a friendly, in October 2020.
Mbappé captain of the Blues? Rothen doesn’t believe it for a second
The outspokenness of Kylian Mbappé could dissuade Didier Deschamps from appointing him captain of the Blues, believes our consultant Jérôme Rothen. Rolland Courbis on the contrary imagines him recovering the armband, after the international retirements of Hugo Lloris and Raphaël Varane.
Hello and welcome to all for this live
It’s D-Day for Didier Deschamps who announces this Thursday at 2 p.m. his list for the two qualifying matches for Euro 2024 against the Netherlands (at home) and Ireland (in Dublin). Two matches already essential for a competition which begins in 15 months.
Finalist of the World Cup, passed a few centimeters from a second world victory in a row, Didier Deschamps must recompose his group after the international retirements of Hugo Lloris, Steve Mandanda but also Karim Benzema, whose hasty departure from Qatar before the competition is clearly not digested.
Didider Deschamps will have to announce if he is going on a new cycle or if he trusts the framework present in Qatar. The case of Giroud, 36, is also debated. For Jérôme Rothen, the misunderstanding would be “total” if Giroud were to be selected.
According to RMC Sport information, Maignan will be number 1, Lafont and Samba are in competition for the third goalkeeper position. In the middle Guendouzi would be the big loser, however, a third Thuram could join the Blues, the Niçois Kephren.
Follow the announcement of the list and the press conference that will follow live commented on the RMC Sport website and app.