“The first match is very important. Not decisive, but very important. Winning puts you in a good position and that is our goal, although I will think the same about Austria.” They are the words of Didier Deschampswho in the press conference took stock of France’s debut at Euro 2024. Les Bleus will take to the pitch against Austria Rangnick in the match valid for the first day of group D, scheduled for Monday 17 June at 9pm at the Merkur Spiel-Arena in Dusseldorf. Juventus is also among the possible starters Adrien Rabiot – also involved in negotiations for the extension of the contract with Juve – who has recovered from an ankle injury.
Deschamps between the Euro and elections
The France coach also responded to the statements of Marcus Thuram And Kylian Mbappé on the next legislative elections. The two players have in fact invited citizens not to vote for Marine Le Pen’s Rassemblement National. “I won’t comment on what the players say, others spoke yesterday, some want to speak more than others, it’s normal because they are not strangers to the situation that France is going through. They are footballers but first and foremost citizens, and they have the opportunity to say things who, with their sensitivity, will probably fuel the debate. Football can unite everyone and I remember that, in any case, the Bleu of France represents solidarity, union and diversity.”
“The players are focused on the sporting objective but not disconnected from what can happen around them. We must face this first match well to immediately put ourselves in a good position – declared the former Juventus midfielder and coach -. We must recognize that obviously the players are immense footballers but above all they are French citizens. They have no indications from me or the federation, they are free to say things with their own words, with their own sensitivity. Personally I have a lot of things to sort out for tomorrow’s match and I can only follow what seems most important to me.
“Even though I never took a political position as a player, we all have a civic duty. There is no top-level coach telling players that winning isn’t important. This is a competition, but I don’t have to overdo them. We have observed Austria’s last four matches, we have a video analysis of what we will face. What all those games had in common was intensity. Of course, they have quality and talent, but Austria’s strength is the ability to apply intensity and pressure.”
“And they use verticality well in the way they play. This is the first match and we will have to be concentrated. France probably has the best squad of all the participants in the European Championships. Regarding the qualities of the individual player, both in attack and defense. If you want to win against a team like that, you have to compensate for some things. We need to act better as a team and seize opportunities in decisive moments. I am convinced that we can do it. Mbappe? With Haalandhe is probably the best striker in the world”added the France coach.
