European Football Championship - Deschamps' joy over lackluster French team
Didier Deschamps was in good spirits. The trainer of the French national team sat on the podium in the catacombs of the Düsseldorf EM-Arena and was pleased with life. The next lackluster performance of his minimalist football team did not seem to bother the 55-year-old. What mattered was success. His star team with exceptional striker Kylian Mbappe had come close to losing to Belgium. Then Deschamps would have had reason to worry about his job. But his team won through an own goal. For Deschamps, there was no cause for criticism.
"I am very proud of what we have achieved," he said and even spoke of a great game. "We have qualified for the quarterfinals and that is exactly what we wanted." Deschamps urged: "We need to enjoy it. We must not diminish it."
Griezmann: "On a good track"
Since 2012, the Basque has been the French national coach. With his team, he reached the final in the past four major tournaments, becoming World Champion in 2018. The results speak for Deschamps, but the French team remains a mystery. The offense with superstar Kylian Mbappe, Marcus Thuram, Randal Kolo Muani, or Ousmane Dembele is exceptionally well-staffed. However, France plays uninspiringly, one could even say boringly. Christoph Kramer, German World Champion from 2014, summed up the performance against Belgium: "Little idea, little movement, little depth."
France has not scored a single goal on their own in the four games at this EM. Mbappe scored a penalty. Otherwise, the French benefited from two own goals.
The French attacking players were surprisingly apathetic against Belgium on Monday for long stretches of the game. Because Kolo Muani did not hit the ball right and Vertonghen made an own goal, striker Antoine Griezmann was able to say after the game: "Our goal is the final. We are on the right track." Midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni stated: "We want to win, that's why we're here. It doesn't matter if we shoot three or 15 goals."
The next opponent in the round of 16 is also unimpressive
Instead of offensive spectacles, the Blues show defensive art at the EM at most. They have conceded only one goal so far. The Man of the Match against Belgium was not Mbappe or joker Kolo Muani, but right-back Jules Kounde. The 25-year-old is not worried despite the weak attacking performance. "I have a lot of faith in the team. We will score goals," he said.
In the quarterfinals, Portugal awaits, and that means the team that defeated France at the EM 2016 in the final and destroyed the dream of the home title in Paris. Portugal showed then how to become European champions with minimalism. The team around world star Cristiano Ronaldo won only one game in the seven tournament matches leading to the title in regular playing time. The Portuguese performances were rarely convincing.
Just as the Iberians shone in the Round of 16 on Monday, France did not. They only managed to get past Slovenia in the penalty shootout. Regarding the upcoming power struggle on Friday in Hamburg for France's then suspended midfielder Adrien Rabiot, Rabiot himself stated: "My favorites are Spain, Germany, and Switzerland."
Captain Mbappé, according to his coach's statement, will still be wearing his unwanted face mask in the Round of 16 due to his nasal fracture. "He will have to get used to it because he will have to wear it for a few more weeks," Deschamps said. Mbappé himself has already made it clear that the special production bothers him. It remains unclear whether this explanation sheds any light on his subpar performances at this tournament, a mystery that only Mbappé himself seems to hold the answer to. (25 years old)
- Despite the lackluster performance against Belgium, Deschamps praised his team, especially Kylian Mbappe, stating they were on the right track towards the final.
- Griezmann, a key player in the French team, remained optimistic, revealing their goal was to reach the final.
- France's defense, led by Jules Kounde, has been impressive, conceding only one goal so far in the European Championship.
- In the next round of 16, France will face Portugal, a team that also relies on minimalism and defeated France in the 2016 final.
- Adrien Rabiot, France's suspended midfielder, named Spain, Germany, and Switzerland as his favorites for the tournament.
- Despite his nasal fracture and the uncomfortable face mask, Mbappé is expected to continue playing in the Round of 16.
- Ousmane Dembélé, Marcus Thuram, and Randal Kolo Muani are some of the talented attackers in France's well-staffed roster, but the team struggles to be inspiring on the field.
- Didier Deschamps, the French national team coach, has led his team to four major tournament finals since 2012, including winning the World Cup in 2018.
