“It will take time” to consolidate the French team with the new generation after the announcement of the international retirements of Hugo Lloris, Steve Mandanda, Raphaël Varane and Karim Benzema, coach Didier Deschamps said on Monday, “boosted” before the start of qualifying for Euro 2024. The coach of the Blues must appoint a new captain for France, a difficult choice which should be played between two players…
“It will become a torture!” Then joked coach Didier Deschamps on Monday, after several reminders from journalists questioning him about the identity of the new captain of the France team, whom he did not want to to unveil. “I will use these first days to discuss it with the players concerned” and “there are not five”, first replied the technician, orphan of his historic captain Hugo Lloris and vice-captain Raphaël Varane. A choice that could be played between Kylian Mbappé and Antoine Griezmann.
“Pumped”
Journalist : In what state of mind are you for this start of the school year?
Didier Deschamps : “Inflated to the block. All the players are smiling, as on all the first days of the rallies. You have to switch quickly, be in the heart of the matter, be fully on this qualifying phase, especially with the quality of our first opponent (the Netherlands on Friday). There is never a margin at the top level, but there, you will have to perform well from the start, then move on with Ireland. We have two high-level matches on this camp You have to make sure from the start that you are fixed, even obsessed with this goal of qualification. You must not think that you are already qualified. You have to get back to reality, make a lot of effort to achieve your goal. “.
Journalist : Have you decided on the hierarchy in the goalkeeper position?
Didier Deschamps : “The number 1 position will obviously be (for) Mike Maignan. Afterwards, I have to have discussions. There will be a hierarchy which will be that of today. Will it be the same in June? discussions with the three goalkeepers. But Mike will obviously have this responsibility of number 1 on this meeting. The experience? Yes of course, it is a criterion in the choice of number 2. It is a specific position all the same, I don’t I was not a goalkeeper. In the reflection, the experience is an element that can count”.
Journalist : With the international retirements of Hugo Lloris, Raphaël Varane, Steve Mandanda and Karim Benzema, do you need experience?
Didier Deschamps : “You just have to look at the team that finished the last match against Argentina… There weren’t many selections (on the pitch). You can’t replace people who have been on the line for ten years, it will take time. But that does not prevent those who had less from already taking up space, taking over (…) Raphaël (Varane), no one is in his place. I make sure to fit in I knew him well, because he started out with me. He’s someone who’s thoughtful and composed enough not to make a decision overnight. It’s deep inside him. It’s not something something that makes me happy. But it’s not just age, there’s personal circumstances that can lead to this decision. For my part, I have to accept it. I respect it. There are demands in very high level sport and football. It depends on what age you start, but it also depends on the things you accumulate, the stress, the private situation too. The demands of the very high t level bring fatigue, whether physical or psychological. Everyone is free to analyze their ability to chain or not. Each player has a path that can be different. Some continue until the age of 40 because there have been many improvements in the support, the medical field, but for others it can be complicated”.