In the one-eighth final of the UEFA Europa League on July 2, Beijing time, France successfully advanced to the quarter-finals with a score of 1-0 over Belgium. After the match, France's head coach Deschamps was interviewed and gave a comprehensive review of the match.
Team Performance and Opponent Analysis
Deschamps began by recognizing the team's performance in the match, saying that the team had made significant progress. He pointed out that although Belgium is an attacking team on paper, they were quite cautious in the game. France, on the other hand, created more attacking chances through their relentless efforts and managed to capitalize on one of them to win the game. Deschamps emphasized that his team stayed calm and patient during the game and did not fall into Belgium's trap easily.
Mbappe and the adaptation of the mask
Regarding the core of the team, Mbappe, wearing a mask during matches, Deschamps said that Mbappe is gradually adapting to the change. He mentioned that sweat could be a problem when wearing the mask as it could potentially run into Mbappe's eyes. However, Deschamps also noted that Mbappe is adapting positively to this new playing environment and is working hard to overcome the inconveniences that come with it. He revealed that Mbappe said that seeing things while wearing the mask is like watching a 3D movie, and that while there is no problem with his immediate field of vision, his peripheral vision may be delayed. However, Deschamps believes that Mbappe will gradually adapt to this in the upcoming matches and continue to contribute to the team.
Team Creativity and Future Outlook
Speaking about the team's creativity, Deschamps said that the team showed good creativity and attacking ability in the game. He specifically mentioned the attacking chance that led to Belgium's oval, noting that even a deflected goal requires someone to shoot to make it happen. Deschamps emphasized that the best teams are participating in this Euro and the intensity of the competition is very high. While France always has the ability to score more goals, they have faced some difficulties during the tournament. However, he believes that the team is capable of overcoming these difficulties and continue to do well in the coming matches.
Finally, Deschamps called on the fans to enjoy the moment of victory. He said that even though it had been expected that France would advance to the quarterfinals, every victory in a match is hard to come by. He thanked the players for their hard work and dedication and hoped that they would continue to maintain this good form and fighting spirit in the coming matches. At the same time, he is also full of confidence in the future of the team, believing that they can go far in the European Cup.
