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Didier Deschamps was probably expecting another question when he started his post-match press conference on Sunday evening in the auditorium of the Al-Thumama stadium.
Smiling, with the qualification of his team in the quarter-finals following the success against Poland (3-1), the coach of the Blues was asked about an unusual sequence.
Namely in the 42nd minute, when the match referee stopped the game because Jules Koundé had his two gold chains around his neck.
Jules Koundé DYLAN MARTINEZ / REUTERS
From the outset, an English colleague asked if the evening official had ordered the French defender to remove his jewelry because of a possible connection with the LGBT movement, thinking that on one of the chains was the famous arc- in sky.
A hypothesis refuted by the boss of the world champions quite annoyed.
Deschamps' dry answer
Read alsoThe notes of the Blues against Poland: the genius of Mbappé, the record of Giroud
"It's not for that but because it's not allowed
," he completed quickly before, without being revived, scratching the attitude of his player.
Players are not allowed to wear bracelets, necklaces or watches (to avoid hurting themselves or an opponent, a rule applied from football school).
I don't know what's on his collar, I know Jules is a bit of a superstition.
He has it in training.
I don't know the meaning.
»
And Deschamps to continue, not very smiling on this question.
"
I also told him
: 'you're lucky that I'm not in front of you, otherwise...'
The referee had warned us that as soon as there was a stoppage of play... Players are also not going to play with a watch or sunglasses.
It's not allowed.
I thought he took them off but apparently he didn't.
It's our fault.
»