Qualification for the Euro is a Holy Grail for a slew of small European nations. Despite the advent of several interesting players, Georgia can still be considered a modest team on the European chessboard while the French team would represent the Lady of the game. Even if Willy Sagnol, former executive of the Blues, does a job remarkable on the bench of the Crusaders, the latter still do not have their ticket for Germany next summer. And while Didier Deschamps’ band narrowly failed in 2016 and had a little more difficulty during the following edition, the latter risks having great ambitions for the 2024 vintage. For Sagnol, France has ‘a breeding ground which makes him an obvious favorite as he confided to our microphone*.
“So if I can’t put Georgia in, I’m going to have a hard time, teases the former right-back and French international (58 caps). I don’t want to be chauvinistic, but at the moment, no other country in the world has as much potential as the French. There are other countries with very high quality players, but for each position we have 3 or 4 very good players, and no other country in the world has that. And even if we talk a lot about French clubs in Europe, I want to congratulate all the trainers, whether pro or amateur, because they do an extraordinary job and we never insist on it. For Mbappé to become Mbappé, it is also because he had the right trainers when he was young, and it is these people who must be highlighted.»
*The full interview will be available on French Football Weekly at 3 p.m. this Sunday, November 19.
