In the Euro 2024 Quarterfinal match on July 6, Beijing time, France eliminated Portugal with a total score of 5-3 by virtue of an outstanding performance in the penalty shootout, successfully advancing to the quarterfinals, and will face Spain in the semifinals. After the match, France's head coach Deschamps was interviewed by the media, explaining in detail the decision to replace Mbappe during the match.
Deschamps began by recognizing the intensity of the game and the outstanding performance of the players: "It was a very intense, intense game. Even though we had less possession in extra time, the end of the game looked tougher and the players were tired, we didn't give up and the final result proved that our efforts were worthwhile."
Talking about the decision to replace Mbappe, Deschamps said it was due to the dual consideration of player fatigue and tactical adjustments: "Mbappe showed his strength and determination in the game, but I also noticed that he already looked very fatigued in the first half of the extra time. As a manager, I have to think about the interests of the team as a whole, not just the individual performance of one player. Even though he is a key player in our team and an important candidate for penalties, with his obvious fatigue, I thought it would be wiser to replace him with fresh blood."
Deschamps also revealed Mbappe's attitude towards the decision: "Kylian (Mbappe) has always been very open with me and the team. He understands that every decision in the game is for the team's victory and understands the need to make the choice that is best for the team at critical moments. Therefore, when he was substituted, he didn't have any complaints and fully supported his teammates."
Finally, Deschamps looked ahead to the upcoming semifinals: "We are about to face Spain, a very strong opponent. But we are confident and capable of meeting this challenge. We will summarize the experience and lessons learned from this game and prepare ourselves for the semi-final. I believe that as long as we are united and work hard, we will be able to achieve better results."
