Special Envoy to Doha
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His feeling after the defeat and the place of leader
“I know that I didn't put the players in the best mood.
The number one goal was to finish 1st.
We did it.
We did not neglect this meeting.
I'm not going to condemn anyone, some have touched the very high international level… We are 24, my players won the first two matches together and the last one they all lost together too.
I'll need all 24 in four days (Sunday, Round of 16), with some full of energy and others coming out of two high-intensity matches.
There was a need for freshness, you can't have everything... Do better?
Yes.
Today, I didn't have to pick up a point to be sure of being first, except for a cataclysm.
I don't get angry, I'm calm, relaxed,
not upset as I heard, I'm just explaining things to you.
»
Read alsoTunisia-France: far too weak, the Blues fall but fulfill their mission
If its incumbents were tired
“You don't have the elements I have, there are many reasons (for its high turnover, with 9 changes).
In this World Cup, these are 105-minute matches, with matches every 4 days, with an adrenaline rush in each match.
What would it have changed to put all the holders?
Do we have a different result?
Maybe.
And after ?
Sometimes you have to make choices.
When I can get the butter, the butter money and the creamer, I do.
That was not the case tonight.
You have to know how to be satisfied with it.”
If he was tempted to bring in Griezmann and Mbappé at halftime?
“I did what I had planned.
Namely for Kylian (Mbappé) that he has 30 minutes to keep up the pace.
I had planned two other changes before for Raphaël (Varane) and Kingsley (Coman), and I had two left, or I made more attacking choices with Antoine (Griezmann) and Ousmane (Dembélé), even if I brought in Adrien (Rabiot).
I couldn't bring in Olivier (Giroud), who could have been useful, because I had to bring in Adrien, which was not planned.
»
Read alsoTunisia-France: “We were too soft and shy” plague Deschamps after the break
On the downgrading of Pavard
“I'm not going to go into details, but I had several exchanges with him I consider that he is not in good conditions, dispositions.
You will tell me it's physical, it's the head, obviously the first match did not help him, that's why I made a different choice (establishment of Axel Disasi).
»
His look after the confusion of the disallowed goal
“I'm waiting for an answer on the regulations.
If after seeing the VAR it is considered offside, I don't know all the regulations.
The referee whistled the end and then returned to the action.
I didn't know that was possible.
You know it ?
I take the answer.
I went to see the referee to discuss and I asked him, now I'm waiting for the answer.
»
His speech in the locker room
“It's part of our history and it takes nothing away from what we've done before.
I have a little experience, an impression emerges on group matches and then another competition begins.
You have to accept it.
It's not fun, but you shouldn't go one way or the other.
We expect Sunday at 6 p.m. with all the necessary confidence and serenity.
»
The whistles on the Marseillaise
“I don't know if it's really a football atmosphere.
We were playing outside.
Whistling the Marseillaise is not football.
Or any other sport for that matter.
I'm not going to get into that debate.
So much the better if they have that support, but they are eliminated tonight (Wednesday).
»
SEE ALSO
- World Cup: what to remember from the match between Tunisia and France?
Frederic Picard's response
