Special Envoy to Doha
To discover
World Cup: The complete table of the final phase
All World Cup match results
Download the Le Figaro Sport app and follow the Blues in Qatar
Dayot Upamecano holder in the France team at the World Cup?
It wouldn't surprise anyone if the Bayern player started the quarter-final against England on Saturday (8 p.m.).
But a few months back, that would obviously have been surprising... It must be said that the 24-year-old didn't necessarily shine during his first outings with the blue jersey, he didn't immediately know how to get the same performance in selection as in club.
That was before.
Even Marcel Desailly compliments him.
“
I have a lot of respect for him, we were able to talk together before the matches, he gave me advice, said to continue like this.
It's nice coming from him… It was a winner, an example for the French and me
, ”he underlines this Thursday, at a press conference.
And to add, on his contrasting debut in the France team, he who now has 10 selections: “
I had bad times but I do not remember that.
I never thought it was over, I always continued to work.
I always said that I was going to come back with desire and to fight
.
Dayot Upamecano PAUL CHILDS / PANORAMIC
Development more than a rant from Varane
That's what he did.
Taking advantage in particular of Presnel Kimpembe's package, Upamecano won alongside Raphaël Varane, a player "
who talks a lot on and off the field
" in his capacity as vice-captain, leader.
The Manchester United defender did so in particular at half-time in the round of 16 against Poland (3-1).
A saving rant.
"
I'm not going to say rant.
Above all, he motivated the group.
We had a slack in the first half and he's a leader, he's been there for a long time, like others.
We have a young team and we always need leaders.
What was wrong?
We lost a lot of duels and passes, we had to remotivate ourselves and change our face.
We did it very well and that's the most important thing.
», Says the Norman player, who does not hesitate to give voice himself.
“
I do it at Bayern, why not in the France team?
he smiles.
To defend against Mbappé, "you have to go to bed early"
And this until cropping… Kylian Mbappé in the middle of a match.
"
I didn't put Kylian back in place, I wouldn't say that
(smile)," he said, almost embarrassed.
“
I told him that he had to close the pass in the axis.
He also gives advice in the game.
Then I see the terrain from my position.
I can say it, it's my role
, ”explained the rough French defender, apparently impervious to pressure.
“
I try not to put pressure on myself even if it's a World Cup quarter-final, it's not nothing.
I speak with everyone, with the coach, and if I'm on the pitch I'll try to give my all and make my presence felt
, "he swears, aware of the talent of English individuals but focused on the collective.
Above all, we will prepare a plan against England.
We know them, they are world-class players who know how to play football, we will have to prepare well to attack this match well
, ”he analyzes.
Charge the English to prepare a plan for French talents, and in particular Kylian Mbappé.
Asked to compare Bondy's crack and Erling Haaland, whom he faced for a long time in the Bundesliga during the clashes between Bayern and Dortmund ("
It's war
"), Dayot Upamecano summed things up by saying this: "
We have to go to bed early
”.
Brilliant since the start of the World Cup, Jude Bellingham still wears the colors of Borussia unlike the Norwegian Cyborg.
"
He's a talent, a very good player, he's gaining experience, he's playing every game.
It will be a nice fight in the middle.
We have experienced players with Adri (Rabiot) and Grizou (Antoine Griezmann).
It will be a good game on Saturday
“, assures the Bavarian, forgetting to quote the one who will most certainly be confronted most often with the nugget Bellingham, Aurélien Tchouameni.
“It will be a great duel,” said Youssouf Fofana, former teammate of the said Tchouameni on the side of AS Monaco, also present this Thursday at a press conference.
And Upamecano concludes: "The team that makes the fewest mistakes will win."
Hopefully the Blues will do less.