the words of Didier Deschamps before France-Israel

“No one can be insensitive to the heavy and heavy context”recognized the coach of the France team Didier Deschamps, Wednesday on the eve of the match against Israel at the Stade de France (Saint-Denis). The Blues will play their 5th and penultimate match of the group stage of the League of Nations with largely reinforced security around the stadium and the Israeli team, while the war in the Middle East crystallizes tensions.

“We made sure to prepare for this match as normally as possible, but obviously, in the entire France group, no one can be insensitive to the heavy and heavy context, explained Deschamps at a press conference. We want to ensure that it remains a football match, despite everything. The Blues coach is aware of the low number of expected spectators, around 20,000, compared to the capacity of the Dionysian enclosure (80,000).

Adaptation, Deschamps’ key word

“These are not environments that players are used to with their clubs, continued Deschamps. I'm going to take out the usual word : adapt. We have to adapt and focus on what we have to do on the pitch and ensure our qualification for the quarter-finals of the Nations League.” France only needs a draw against Israel on Thursday (8:45 p.m.) to be sure of playing in the knockout phase next March.

Deschamps, in office since 2012, expects “to a difficult match” against Israel, 78th nation in the FIFA rankings and which the Blues largely dominated in Budapest, Hungary, on October 10 (1-4). “It’s a team that scored in its 4 matches” of the League of Nations, recalled Deschamps. “She gets her captain (Eli) Dasa back, a Leeds striker with (Manor) Solomon. I know very well that they will give everything tomorrow. It will depend a lot on us and what we do.” France will punctuate its group stage with a match against Italy in Milan on Sunday.