Despite the draw conceded against Bosnia-Herzegovina (1-1), the France team is the leader of its qualifying group for the 2022 World Cup. With 8 points on the clock, the French team has 4 more units. than Ukraine, its runner-up held in check by Kazakhstan (2-2) last Wednesday.
A victory in Ukraine this Saturday evening (8:45 p.m. French time), would allow the Blues to perform well in the race for qualification.
It will also be a question of reassurance after four consecutive games without a win.
Didier Deschamps was at a press conference this Friday at the Olympic stadium in Kiev to discuss this meeting.
You have four games without a win, why is it important to win?
DIDIER DESCHAMPS.
It's always good to win, anytime.
We face an opponent who has played four games like us, and who is behind us in the standings.
A victory would allow us to take more lead, we will leave with these intentions, which we already had in the match against Bosnia.
The more we advance, the fewer matches to play.
They are all important, that of tomorrow is obviously.
Why did you decide to put
Kylian Mbappé back
at the disposal of PSG?
Kylian felt something at the end of the game, we did exams where the reassuring term was used, there is no tear.
If that had been the case he would have been gone for several weeks or several months.
It was an injury he had already had in May, more or less the same feeling, and which made him miss the game against City if I remember correctly.
I don't see the point either for him or for us that he stays there since he cannot play the next two games.
There is pain and because of the deadlines we have, there was no possibility that he could be fit tomorrow.
Read also France team: why Didier Deschamps let Kylian Mbappé return to Paris
Are you going through the most complicated period since you have been at the head of the France team?
Good question ... I don't even ask myself it.
I am in the action, I still have some experience in relation to qualifications.
Even if the last result is not what we hoped for.
You know the situation, today we are in the best possible place, I am calm and serene about what will happen.
Together with Mukiele, summoned 5 new players to this gathering.
Was it necessary to regenerate the group after the Euro?
I have always made sure to bring in young players, or not so young.
It is the correct term to oxygenate.
From the moment there are absentees, in relation to injuries in particular, that explains why there are more (Editor's note: new conscripts).
But that never stopped me from mixing, it's important to have players who work closely with the France team, you never know what can happen.
Do you feel that you still have eleven players who want to defend together, making efforts for each other?
I have no doubts about that of course.
After that, there are situations that can be analyzed differently.
Taking goals is not just the responsibility of defenders.
As I have always told you, that does not go against the offensive animation, but to be able, when you do not have the ball, to keep this serenity, this solidity.
If you remember the first leg against Ukraine correctly, they had a chance and they managed to score.
Defending well is important at the top level, but that doesn't mean winning matches, it's a question of balance.
Is Adrien Rabiot already able to play an entire match?
He is better, even if it was not planned that he will play this match (Editor's note: last Saturday with Juventus). This is why I had not taken it from the initial list, otherwise I would have taken it. He played for an hour, he has a great athletic ability. From the moment he is there and feels good, he is able to start the match.
