France will face the mighty Spain in the upcoming Europa League semi-final on July 10 at 3:00 am Beijing time. Before the match, France player Youssef Fofana attended the team's regular press conference, where he shared his feelings about the upcoming match and responded to some of the criticisms of the French team.
Talking about the penalty shootout against Portugal, Fofana looked very calm and confident. He said he was not particularly pressured, but rather happy to accept the task of taking penalties. He mentioned that even defeat can make the team improve in this aspect, showing the positive attitude of the French team when facing challenges.
Fofana, on the other hand, was unfazed by the criticism of the French team's style of play. He believes that the fact that the team has managed to reach the semi-finals is proof enough of their strength. He specifically mentioned the outstanding performances of players such as Mbappe and Griezmann, arguing that their level of play is enough to take France far. Fofana also said that although scoring goals is the goal of soccer, what is more important is the unity and hard work that the team showed during the game.
Fofana spoke highly of his teammate Meinion's leadership. He believes that Mynion has shown great leadership skills in the game and his tone of voice always makes the team more focused and calm. Fofana also revealed that Meinion's presence gives the players more confidence to do their job, knowing that they have a determined teammate behind them.
Speaking about his relationship with head coach Deschamps, Fofana said there is good communication and trust between the two. He mentioned that Deschamps always tries to maintain a balance with each player so that everyone feels the attention and support of the coaching staff. Fofana also said that he doesn't need the coach to specifically reassure him through words or actions, as the whole team is united and working together to face the game.
On France's defensive performance, Fofana said that the team needs to be more vigilant and focused. He believes that overconfidence in a game can lead to a breakdown of the defense, so the team needs to be on their toes and realize that danger can come from anywhere. He singled out Meignan's performance in the previous match, saying that his saves earned the team a valuable victory.
Finally, Fofana also talked about the cohesion that Dembele brings to the team. He believes that although Dembele may not be particularly a jokester in character, he is always able to make his teammates feel happy and relaxed in his own way. This kind of cohesion is very important for the team because it allows the players to be more relaxed and confident to face the challenges in the game.
