European Football Championship - Enigmatic France: Deschamps remains calm
Kylian Mbappé took off his mask and let himself be celebrated by the French fans. After scoring his first goal at the UEFA European Football Championship in Germany, France's superstar was momentarily elated - it was one of the few happy moments for the Tri-colored team on an otherwise disappointing group stage day.
At the end of the group phase, France's delicate footballers still give a puzzling image. There's no denying that this team, filled with elite players, possesses incredible quality. However, it's surprising how little the Vice-World Cup winner gets to showcase it on the field.
Bittersweet Aftertaste
In the 1:1 against already eliminated Poland, Mbappé and Co. created numerous high-quality chances. In the end, only an Elfmetertor from Mbappé came out, who had returned to the starting lineup after his nasal bone fracture. The result: France finished Group D in second place and now finds itself in the supposedly more complicated tournament half with Portugal, Spain, and Germany. And the next challenge against Belgium is certainly demanding. "The group phase leaves a bitter aftertaste," wrote the daily newspaper "Le Figaro".
Mbappé left Dortmund's stadium on Tuesday evening with a downcast look. "The team knows that it didn't show the face of a title contender in the group stage," analyzed the sports newspaper "L'Équipe".
Deschamps remains calm
However, his coach appeared surprisingly calm despite the many disapproving voices. "I'm not at all disappointed," the 55-year-old said after the disappointing group stage finish. "We're where we wanted to be, in the knockout stage. Our group was definitely difficult. Now, practically a new competition begins," said the World Cup-winning coach from 2018.
"The impressions from the group stage don't mean much in the knockout stage. It's all about the sausages now. Big opponents are coming," explained Deschamps. The former world-class player is counting on his star player Mbappé to adapt better to the unfamiliar face mask in the round of 16 on Monday in Düsseldorf.
Rest and relaxation
Deschamps gave his star team a break on Wednesday. Families were invited to the training camp for rest and relaxation. Preparation for the knockout stage was scheduled to begin on Thursday. "I remain positive. It's a new tournament that begins for us on July 1," said Deschamps.
However, doubts are beginning to grow at home about Deschamps' approach. "Didier Deschamps can say what he wants. That he's not disappointed with the game. Better yet: that he's even satisfied with the performance of his men against Poland, which had already been eliminated before this game. Whatever the trainer says, we have the right to think the opposite," wrote "Le Figaro".
- The French team, led by Kylian Mbappe, and often referred to as 'L'Équipe Tricolore', finished Group D in second place at the European Football Championship in Germany, setting up a challenging knockout stage against Portugal, Spain, and Germany.
- During the group stage, Le Figaro, a prominent daily newspaper in France, expressed a 'bitter aftertaste' following France's performance, noting that despite possessing elite players, they failed to show their full potential on the field.
- After a disappointing group stage finish in North Rhine-Westphalia, Mbappe, who returned to the starting lineup following a nasal bone fracture, scored a penalty kick in France's 1-1 draw against Poland.
- Meanwhile, Kylian Mbappé's former club, Dortmund, was witness to his subdued demeanor after the match, as he left the stadium with a visibly downcast expression.
- Despite the disapproving voices, Didier Deschamps, France's head coach, remained calm and collected, emphasizing that they had achieved their main objective of qualifying for the knockout stage.
- The German manager, Deschamps, believed that the team's performances in the group stage would carry little weight in the knockout stage, urging his players, including Mbappé, to adapt to the new challenges ahead.
- Ahead of their Round of 16 match against Belgium in Düsseldorf, Deschamps allowed his team a day of rest and relaxation, while urging them to stay positive and embrace the new tournament beginning on July 1.
