“Spain is the big favorite for the World Cup”: Deschamps’ truths before France-Senegal

Why the first match is important: “In the question, you gave the answer. Yes, it’s very important, because it’s the first match. But this is valid for all teams starting the competition. Afterwards, the match is not decisive since there are two other matches (Iraq and Norway). The last world champion lost his first match (Argentina vs Saudi Arabia in 2022 ). But starting with a victory in a four-team group is the best thing. That’s always the goal when we approach this first match.”

The recipe for a successful entry into the running: “It’s our first date. We have known it since the draw, we are getting closer, we are on D-1. New York, the United States, this makes this match even more prestigious, due to the level of this Senegal team. We know what to expect. They too will be a balance of power. Everyone prepares with their qualities to ensure they win the match. Afterwards, there is always the emotional aspect. There are players who can tense up due to the importance of the match or the fundamentally possible stakes. The ideal is to be concentrated and relaxed. It also depends on what the opponent will do. But our ideas are clear.”

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If France is the favorite of this World Cup: “It’s very kind of you to ask me this question, especially since you (the journalist) Are Spanish. If there is one team that is favorite among all, it is Spain. Your French colleagues, I hope they will ask the same questions to our Spanish colleague. Even if France legitimately has the ambition to be able to retain its titles, there is a road that is long and difficult, as always. France has high-level potential due to the results that have been obtained through the last two World Cups. I have a lot of high quality players, but for whom this will be the first competition, the first World Cup. I am not going to consider the France team stronger than the others. There are always more or less the same teams, but the big favorite is Spain.

It will be a high-level clash for a first match.

Didier Deschamps avant France-Sénégal

Son regard sur le Sénégal : “Senegal is one of the best African and world teams. There is everything in terms of quality. Obviously, they have players in the best clubs, they have very significant offensive potential, a midfield that works very well. The defensive aspect also, in the last competition in the African Cup of Nations, was very effective, with great athletic density. But it’s not just that. There are also many players who bring important technical skills. When you’re part of the best teams, you have everything. So we know what to expect. They too know what to expect. And it will be a high-level clash for a first match. It’s the specificity of finding yourself in the same group with obviously Iraq and then Norway, which is also a very big nation.”

Expected breakthrough in Blue for Dembélé: “It’s true that he started early in the selection (2016)but he also had quite a few breaks linked to his numerous injuries. So there are matches every three, four days. Obviously with PSG, his personal recognition with the Ballon d’Or puts him in the spotlight. Ousmane is very concerned, focused, like all the other players. He wants to be very good, to be decisive, as he is quite regularly with PSG, even if this last season he also had, unfortunately for him, small physical problems which led him to have to skip a lot of matches. There, we gave him time, like all the players who were affected by the Champions League final, on a physical level, but also on a psychological level. Obviously with Ousmane at the best of his level, it’s a plus for the French team.”

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Revanche par rapport à Sénégal 2002 : “It’s part of the story. Almost all of my players weren’t born in 2002 (laughs). I watched the match even though I wasn’t at the stadium. I know, you have that famous word “revenge†. There is no revenge in football. It was 24 years ago. That will be another page to write. What happened in 2002, good for Senegal. Today, we are going to do everything so that the result goes the other way.”

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Mbappé superstar in the United States butabsent this Monday in front of the media  : “My primary objective is to protect the players. And of course, this morning, before leaving, it took us an hour to get back, I saw three players out of 26. But I’m not complaining. We will have an hour’s journey. We are 24 hours before the match. My priority is to protect in a normal way. Journey, heat… I try to protect as much as possible. Kylian is Kylian whatever he does, good or less good for some. He is adored by young and old all over the world. Afterwards, he doesn’t want to be president, I don’t think that’s his objective (smile). He has a worldwide popularity rating and he lives with that, he knows it, but that’s not why he’s not a natural in the group and in relation to the responsibility that he also has and that he fully assumes as captain.

Message à Christophe Gleizes whose parents are in the United States  : “Regarding Christophe, we met his parents before the Coupe de France. I hope for him and for his family that he can be there as soon as possible and ask his questions himself.”