Following France's 1-0 shutout of Belgium to advance to the last eight of the UEFA Europa League, midfielder Rabio spoke to RMC Sports to share his insights on the tournament and his outlook for the future.
Strikeout Ball: Relief and Victory
Rabio began by mentioning the decisive goal, stating, "This goal was really a relief. We were very solid all game, almost dripping with energy on the defensive end, and we knew we only needed one goal to break the deadlock, and this last-minute goal allowed us to completely break down our opponents. It wasn't just a goal, it was the result of a total team effort and a symbol of our unity and perseverance."
Team Tactics: Flexibility, Solid Defense
Speaking about the team's tactical arrangement, Rabio revealed the French team's strategy: "Tactically, we didn't strictly follow the traditional 4-4-2 diamond midfield formation. We made adjustments according to the characteristics of the players and the opponents, such as having Griezmann move on the right side so that he could use his left foot to cut inside and shoot. We stuck to what we are good at, which is defense. Our defense was excellent, with the midfielders working closely together and not leaving any gaps for the opponents. The back line also played extremely solid and made few mistakes in one-on-one defense."
Offensive efficiency: pragmatism wins, no need to say more
For the seeming lack of efficiency on the offensive end of the French team, Rabiot has his own opinion: "All it takes to win is a goal, and 1-0 is enough for us. We did not intentionally pursue a magnificent attack and more goals, but more focused on the effectiveness of the game and the results. Our formation is very compact and the midfielders work well with each other to effectively block the opponent's attack. Although we may not have many attacks, every attack is very threatening. This pragmatic way of playing allowed us to take the initiative in the game."
Impact of the suspension: trusting teammates and supporting them to the end
Finally, Rabio spoke about the fact that he will be suspended for the quarterfinals due to yellow card accumulation. He said, "I'm very frustrated for getting this yellow card, but I'm confident that my teammates will be able to cope with this challenge. I have full confidence in my teammates on the bench and they will show their strength in the game. Although I can't be on the field myself, I will be there to cheer them on and support them with my mental strength. I believe the French team can continue to move forward and create better results."
