European Football Championship - France: Minimalism in the European Championship semi-finals
After the lucky entry into the semi-finals of the French minimalists in the Football European Championship, national coach Didier Deschamps did not want to hear any criticism. "I am proud of my players", he said shortly after midnight in Hamburg. "It was not perfect, but I want to enjoy this moment now." With a 5:3 in the penalty shootout, Deschamps' team secured their place in the round of last 16 and will play against Spain, the German champions, on Tuesday evening in Munich. "It doesn't matter if it's deserved or not", said midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni almost defiantly.
After five EM games in Germany, the French have not scored a single goal without assistance. The three goals they have scored came after own goals and a converted penalty kick from superstar Kylian Mbappe.
Strong Defense
"We know that we didn't score a goal in the game. And yes, we will analyze this question together", said the 25-year-old Mbappe in the Volksparkstadion. "With this defensive stability." It is convincing. The French team has only conceded one goal. Nevertheless, the French team with their highly talented attack led by Mbappe or Ousmane Dembele is significantly behind expectations. Even against Portugal. "I am a coach who thinks defensively", said Deschamps. His players hardly criticize the lack of goals. "Since the beginning of the tournament, we have played solidly and defended successfully together. Our calculation is: We have a 90% chance of winning the game if we don't concede a goal", said defender William Saliba. "Now we just need to shoot more goals, but that will come. This team has character and a lot of courage."
On Tuesday, Deschamps and his teammates will be particularly challenged defensively. Spain is the most goal-scoring EM team with 11 goals and has only conceded two goals.
- French minimalists, having secured a place in the European Football Championship semi-finals through a 5:3 penalty thriller against an unnamed opponent, will face Spain in Munich during the quarterfinals.
- Despite criticisms, national coach Didier Deschamps is proud of his team's performance, stating he wants to enjoy the moment after securing a place in the last 16.
- France, in five European Championship games in Germany, has not scored a single goal without assistance, relying on own goals and a converted penalty kick from Kylian Mbappe for their three goals.
- Aurelien Tchouameni, the midfielder, defiantly asserts that it doesn't matter whether France's entry into the next round is deserved or not.
- The strongly defensive French team has only conceded one goal in the entire tournament with impressive defensive stability.
- With defensive stability and minimalist tactics, the French team is led by talented attackers such as Kylian Mbappe or Ousmane Dembele, despite being significantly behind expectations.
- Spain, the most goal-scoring European Championship team, with 11 goals and only two conceded, will provide a significant challenge for Deschamps and his players during the quarterfinals.
- Defender William Saliba believes that a solid defensive performance and shooting more goals is all that's needed for France to win their quarterfinals match against Spain, backed by their character and courage.
