Deschamps on D-1 from France-Poland: “I am like Saint-Thomas, I only believe what I see”

It's another competition that begins, these are cleaver matches for everyone.

It's something to be part of the last teams present, now, there are four matches until the final, we have to go to the end of each match and reach our goal but we must first go to the quarter-finals.

Talking about the past, about a past as positive as this, I don’t see the point.

The players present at that time do not want to relive them.

It's not the same opponent, I don't fall into a routine and if I add more, it will bring what I don't want, namely stress.

There is a place in the quarter-finals.

I watch a lot of matches in this World Cup, not all of them, there are no easy matches.

In the round of 16, the 16 best teams are there because they deserve it.

The level of difficulty increases, so our requirements must be higher to achieve our goals.

Hugo, beyond this pleasure and the very symbolic value of his record, will equal" Tutu "(142 selections each on Sunday) that I knew well (1998 world champion together in particular)… But records are all made to be broken.

There it is a longevity of two exemplary players, great professionals who have maintained themselves at the very high level for many years.

All records have a meaning, this one speaks for itself

In the three matches, she had to defend.

She likes it and adores it, even if it should not be limited to this element.

It has a hard core of players who have good international experience, a large number of selections… There are experienced players like Glik, Lewandowski, Grosicki, Krychowiak, Szczesny with young people who are also discovering the World Cup.

We must respect what Poland has done.

She deserves to be there.

Szczesny was decisive and my players know that in self-sacrifice, there will be a response.

Both will be present on Sunday and they are among the very best in the world.

Kylian and Robert don't have the same register, they are two different profiles… Lewandowski uses his body well, he hasn't had many balls but just one can be enough and we know how dangerous he can be.

We're not just going to focus on him, he's there to seize opportunities.

All the matches are difficult, those of last night too (Brazil-Cameroon, or the meetings of Korea, Uruguay).

The adversaries are there.

There are teams that can afford to manage, that was our case, it was also the case yesterday (Brazil put their B team against Cameroon).

All the teams are well prepared.

The players all play in good leagues.

Will there be other surprises?

I'm like Saint-Thomas, I only believe what I see.

Today, even a great nation, if it is not ready, can have unpleasant situations.

It's him on the ground and on a human level.

He's been with us for a while, although he had a break (after refusing to be a reserve in the 2018 World Cup) at one point.

He is in full possession of his means, in the continuity of what he does with his club.

I know him well, he removed things that bothered him at one time.

A balance player.

It's not reductive, not negative.

He is able to bring offensive danger and real defensive security.

He knows, he feels where he should be.

So much the better that he is at this level.

When you're a coach, if you don't like the players... I don't have to like them.

I know their potential.

The most important thing is to know the human.

Antoine, like some other players, there is a relationship of trust that has developed, which does not prevent me from telling him things that are not going in the right direction, if it is for the good of the 'crew.

I'm not their boyfriend, their dad, their big brother... But it's a bit like that too.

There is a human relationship.

I'm here to protect them without saying what I have to say.