The French team is soon on deck. Victorious during the 2018 World Cup, and finalists during the last edition in Qatar, the Blues are this time looking for their third coronation at the Euro. After 1984 and 2000, the French selection has no longer won the continental tournament, despite a final lost at home in 2016. And after a regrettable journey which ended in the eighth during the last edition, Kylian Mbappé’s teammates are inevitably expected around the corner. In recent days, and as the preparation matches for the tournament approach, a debate has raged: is the French team capable of winning a tournament by displaying flamboyant play? Asked about the issue a few days ago at a press conference, Antoine Griezmann made frank comments on this subject: “the key, even if it’s very boring, is defense, being a solid team, tough in duels, very good defensively, that’s what will allow us to go as far as possible. It’s boring to watch, but that’s how it works.»
A quick response to Didier Deschamps, who did not fail to react: “who said that ? Anthony? (…) I don’t control what the players say, it doesn’t interest me. You bring out a word, a sentence as can be the case with me by retaining only the heart.»And for Jérôme Rothen, this skirmish is not insignificant. On RMCthe former Monaco midfielder suggested that there could be water in the gas between the two men: “this kind of statement, if it comes from a defender, maybe it doesn’t bother him. Coming from his leading player whom he has always protected, I’m not sure that this got through to Deschamps. You are with Didier (Deschamps) to play in these competitions. The players have only one idea in mind: to win. The proof is that Griezmann is obsessed with it because he has not yet won the Euro. He made a final in France in 2016, there was failure in 2021. He is focused and I’m sure they are all like that. It’s a good sign. At the end, being in the logic of Didier Deschamps is very good. That means they are united.» It remains to be seen whether this assumption is justified…
