Info RMC Sport – The French team is under pressure after a moderately convincing Euro 2024 group stage, which ended in second place in the group. Internally, before the Blues’ round of 16 match against Belgium on Monday evening, Didier Deschamps is remobilizing his group and calling on the players to be at 100%.
Euro 2024 is shifting to decisive matches and the French team with it. Les Bleus face Belgium on Monday in the round of 16 of the Euro and beyond the desire to qualify, the French are keen to raise their level a notch, after a rather disappointing group stage which ended in second place. Didier Deschamps is calling for general mobilisation within his group. And this has been the case for several days already.
As soon as the final whistle blew in the draw against Poland last Tuesday, the coach called on the Blues to turn the page on the group stage and move forward. On Thursday lunchtime, the coach spoke in the locker room, giving a mobilizing speech that could well become a founding one. Didier Deschamps hammered home, in essence, that the past of the group stage was behind us, that they had to focus on one moment: next Monday, at 6 p.m., when the round of 16 against the Red Devils kicks off.
>> News from the Blues before France-Belgium
“Thursday, the coach didn’t necessarily shake us up, he just said that the most important thing is what happens, that the past must be forgotten,” said Eduardo Camavinga on Saturday. “It’s a new competition that’s starting and We need to focus on the future.”
A founding speech?
In a speech of about ten minutes, the coach also wanted to reiterate his confidence in his players, reminding them that he had chosen them and that he fully believed in their abilities. But with a message: giving 99% will not be enough, we will have to be at 100%. And even if some will be disappointed to play little or not at all, everyone will have to remain united and mobilized. Because qualification will come through the collective, the group.
Since the match against the Poles, Didier Deschamps has spoken with some players, especially those who were hoping to play a lot more and who are unhappy. Exchanges aimed at reassuring all the members of a group that the former OM coach wants to unite.
“I came with a lot of hope to start”, confided Ibrahima Konaté on this subject at a press conference this Saturday. “It’s part of the vagaries of football. I haven’t played much lately, I lacked rhythm and I think the coach felt it too. We had a good discussion with the coach. I knew what my place was before the first match. I try to be ready before each match but I know the place I have in this team. There is frustration. But I am delighted to be there. 100% would never have sat on the bench, but we are a team. I also have an important role among the substitutes who do not play.
Internally, confidence remains total in Didier Deschamps. And some, remembering that the Blues won 14 of the 18 knockout matches played with him, even consider that he should be followed head down. Because his expertise is no longer in doubt.
The Olivier Giroud case
Before the start of the Euro, the Blues coach did not hide a certain dissatisfaction regarding the late arrival of AC Milan players, who left for Australia to play a friendly match with their club. Olivier Giroud was one of them. Is this an explanation for the fact that the record goal scorer for the French team did not arrive in his best physical condition? The French staff in any case criticize him for a lack of freshness. This is also what Didier Deschamps confided to Olivier Giroud during their exchange.
When he came on, the new Los Angeles FC player displayed statistics similar to his usual performances: the staff’s arguments may have been surprising. Olivier Giroud knows that he must be more decisive when coming off the bench.
The striker is lucid, he knows that he is in the twilight of his career. Within the group, he does not pose any problems and is even, on the contrary, one of those who encourages his teammates the most from the bench. “It’s a pleasure to have him in the group”, confides a close friend of the French team. His last sessions are also very encouraging and he is one of those who have been the most efficient in front of goal these last two days. It remains to be seen whether this will convince Didier Deschamps to play him more against Belgium.
