Winning titles "is not done by snapping your fingers" because "other nations are progressing, working, not sleeping," said coach Didier Deschamps to AFP, one month before the start of the Euro where the champions of the French world are aiming for a double.
The Blues, crowned with the world title in 2018, are among the favorites of the continental tournament scheduled from June 11 to July 11.
However, they are in an extremely tough group in the first round with Germany, Portugal and Hungary.
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“Two years at the highest level, it's huge, even if in life, it's not much ... The wait is obviously important because of the success we have had.
This is the objective of this group, of this generation, ”replied Deschamps, when asked about the chances of achieving the double.
"We will not be able to take away what we have done, it is indelible, but we must say to ourselves that it does not stop, that there are other things to look for," continues the coach.
Winning titles, “it doesn't happen with the snap of your fingers.
The other nations are progressing, working, they are not sleeping.
The ambition must be there.
When you start a competition, you want to go as far as possible, ”says the former captain of the Blues, winner of the 1998 World Cup and Euro-2000.
"Questioning"
“It's very, very difficult to get to the very top level.
But it's even more difficult to stay there.
It takes questioning.
We cannot be higher, the quality is there, but sometimes it is also a few things ”, relativizes Deschamps.
Since the 2018 World Cup, the Blues have only experienced three defeats in twenty-eight matches, despite tactical changes made in the fall to expand the team's palette.
The 4-4-2 pattern that made the French strong in Russia has sometimes been put aside.
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“Now was the time to do it. It gives me more answers, but no more certainties. In football, there are none, they are quickly swept away. I have convictions, I know what we are doing well, we have automatisms that have led us to a result. We can rely on that, but it does not mean that it will repeat itself, ”develops the 52-year-old technician. For his 100th selection on the French bench, in November 2019 in Tirana (2-0 victory against Albania), Deschamps, for example, set up an unprecedented three-way defense.
"I felt it was time to shake up (habits)," he replies, praising "the ability and intelligence" of the players at his disposal.
"It is not all to surprise the adversary, one should not surprise oneself", he continues, evoking "always decisions taken in relation to a group, a situation, an adversary".
Deschamps will unveil the list of players selected for the Euro on May 18 on TF1 and M6, the two French broadcasters of the competition.
The Blues' preparation camp will begin on May 26 at the Clairefontaine training center, before two friendly matches against Wales, on June 2 in Nice, then Bulgaria on June 8 at the Stade de France.
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