“Finish in style”

On the eve of facing Ukraine in the match for 3rd place in the 2024 World Cup, Sunday October 6 (2:30 p.m.), the French captain shares his feelings and the ambition of the Blues.

“What state is the group in 48 hours after the cruel disappointment of the semi-final against Argentina?
We had time to digest, to first be a little sad in the locker room: we were touched and, in a way, extinct. But the days passed, we trained and we rediscovered a little of that joie de vivre that inhabits us and the desire to play this match for third place. We have digested and we are completely focus on the match against Ukraine. We absolutely want to bring back this bronze medal to successfully complete this historic journey.

Getting back into action after coming so close to a World Cup final must not have been easy…
Obviously, we were obsessed with the idea of ​​playing this final. We were very disappointed, especially since we didn’t get far. It really came down to small details against this great Argentina team. It’s sport, you also have to know how to lose. We congratulated them and now we are totally focused on this match against Ukraine which is not going to be easy, far from it. He’s a great opponent but we absolutely want this medal.

In training on Saturday October 5 at the Humo Arena in Tashkent (photo Robertus PUDYANTO/FIFA).

Against Ukraine, do you expect it to be at least as complicated as against the Argentines?
It’s going to be a match against a very big team, which didn’t come far from the final by putting in a very big match against Brazil. He was really pushed around and had his most difficult match in this World Cup, by far. We must not underestimate this great Ukrainian team, combative and used to playing this type of match. (semi-finalist in 1996). We can’t wait to be there and, I repeat, to bring home a medal.

What aspects will this match be played out on: physical freshness, mental freshness, knowing that the Ukrainians have an extra day of recovery?
Physical freshness will play a role, that’s for sure, but so will mental freshness. When you lose a semi-final, you have to immediately switcher which is very difficult, we don’t realize it. This mental aspect will be preponderant. The desire to finish for the first time in history on a world podium is shared by both nations. We really want to go home with a medal around our neck after this historic journey for the French team. We really want to show that France is in its place in the top 3 of world futsal.

How important would this medal be for French futsal and for the French team?
It would be to validate this historic journey with a reward, in a certain way. It is also always important to end a course with a victory. We’ve been together for two months. A medal would be exceptional, we really don’t want to go home empty-handed.

Personally, will this be your last World Cup match in the blue jersey?
Obviously, at 37, this will be my last World Cup match. I didn’t imagine fighting for a medal. For me, that’s a plus. I’m going to make the most of these last few days with the French team in the World Cup. I really want to finish in style, come home with a medal around my neck, share this with my loved ones, my family, my wife who was present, our supporters who really supported us, who pushed us. We felt real fervor and enthusiasm in France. For all these reasons, we really want to go home with something around our neck. It’s close to our hearts, even more so to me, it would be truly exceptional. It was unimaginable and today it is doable. We will give everything.

There will therefore still be emotion in a tournament which has already offered you a lot…
It’s certain that there have already been a lot of emotions. We are experiencing an incredible adventure, moments of sharing with the players, the staff, with our loved ones here, with the public in France who followed us. I honestly don’t know how this is going to happen (moved) but emotions, I am convinced that there will be some. With a medal around my neck, it would be incredible.”