As the French team is about to embark on the key UEFA Nations League matches against Italy and Belgium, head coach Didier Deschamps gave an in-depth analysis of the team's current situation, players' status and tactical layout at today's press conference.
In response to the situation of Areola's half-time withdrawal due to back discomfort, Deschamps said there is no definite news yet, but the situation is not particularly worrying. He emphasized that the team's medical team is paying close attention to Areola's physical condition and will make corresponding adjustments according to the actual situation.
Deschamps could not hide his joy at Mbappe's goal-scoring performance in La Liga. He said bluntly that Mbappe is extremely demanding and that both Ancelotti and himself are confident in Mbappe's form. Deschamps believes that Mbappe will return to the French national team with a smile on his face and enjoy the joy of soccer with his teammates in a new environment.
Talking about what to expect after the Euros, Deschamps said he is not worried about the response of core players such as Mbappe and Griezmann. He believes that the players need time to adjust the state, and he will be a reasonable distribution of playing time during the training period, to ensure that the players can meet the game in the best condition. For Griezmann's performance in the European Cup, Deschamps believes that it is affected by a variety of factors, but not completely out of order, he still contributed to the team.
In terms of squad selection, Deschamps explained why he chose Bardet over Pavard. He emphasized that it was a decision based on multiple considerations, aiming to observe the performance of more players and stock up more options for the team in the future. At the same time, he also recognized the progress of young players such as Barkola and expects them to continue to play well in future matches.
With regards to France's ineffective performance at the Euros, Deschamps believes it is temporary. He emphasized that the team needs to look forward and focus on future matches. He mentioned that the issue of efficiency in soccer is always unpredictable, but the team will try to improve their overall performance and strive for better results in future matches.
In addition, Deschamps spoke about the situation of players such as Zaire Emery. He said that although Zaire Emery did not get a chance to play in the Europa League, he did not feel frustrated, but responded to the challenge with a positive attitude. Regarding Coman's decision to choose to stay at Bayern, Deschamps believes that it will not affect his chances of being selected for the national team as it is the player's ability and performance that counts.
In the center forward position, Deschamps says that Mbappe, Marcus Thuram and Kolo Mouani are all good options. He believes that each of the three players has their own characteristics and can provide the team with different tactical options. He also praised the ability of youngster Oliseh, who has the potential to excel in a number of positions.
