After Thursday's match (0-0 against Israel), you spoke of a “huge disappointment”…
“I was disappointed. Above all, it was a huge frustration, whether personally or collectively. I may have gone a little too hard, but above all it lacked effectiveness. How to react? By winning. Two months ago, we lost against Italy (1-3) and it was hard for everyone. The draw against Israel hurt us too, despite everything the qualification objective was achieved. Now we have another objective which is to finish first by taking our revenge. »
“This inefficiency? We don't need to talk about it among ourselves.”
Apart from efficiency, did everything work in your opinion?
“We dominated the entire match, against a low-block opponent, which is very hard. If we had won 4-0, there would not have been this question. In the locker room or even during recovery the next day, we talked among ourselves, we were all disappointed to have drawn. This inefficiency? We don't need to talk about it among ourselves. Each player is very professional and knows what he has to do, knows how to question himself. I am a defender, I have no advice to give to attackers. »
Would you say that in 2024, the French team has regressed?
” No not at all. Maybe we're not scoring as many goals as before, but we mustn't forget that each player also has personal goals at club, and when we return to the national team, fatigue can build up. We want to be ready for the France team and for the clubs, but we are not regressing. If we are still as motivated in selection? Yes ! The French team remains a source of pride for all of us. It's true that the sequence of matches is such that fatigue can be physical and psychological. But we are motivated and we try to give the best of ourselves. »
“It’s not because Mbappé isn’t there that we can’t win”
Will you be captain against Italy this Sunday and do you have the feeling of having moved ahead of William Saliba in the hierarchy of central defenders?
“As for the captaincy, I have no idea, we’ll see tomorrow. As for the question of being passed back in front or not, I don't know. And it's not a personal match with William Saliba or Dayot Upamecano. There are other players of an exceptional level who are not there. The challenge is daily, I just try to give the best of myself to be highest in the hierarchy. »
Is it possible to beat Italy without Kylian Mbappé?
« (He smiles) We all love him, he's an exceptional player and no one forgets what he did for this country. But it’s not because he’s not there that we can’t win…”
France
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