Special Envoy to Athens
Les Bleus' great run ahead of the final game of 2023
No, I don't use that. We're not going to play tomorrow not to win. This will not give us any additional guarantee. The Grand Slam in Euro 1992 qualifying? It didn't help us (elimination in the first round). We want to have the best qualifying phase possible, we're on a flawless run, and we want to stay like that tomorrow (against Greece). Series, superstitions, all that can change... Who would have thought that we would make this journey at the World Cup in Qatar? We want to respect our opponents, like we did against Gibraltar, and play until the end of these qualifiers. We mustn't play with the handbrake, even if tomorrow's (Tuesday) stakes won't change anything in the standings. It's an international match, there's quality in this Greek team.
Read alsoLes Bleus' ratings against Gibraltar: Mbappé decisive but average, Griezmann discreet
A revamped France team in Greece
I have eight players playing on Friday night (in Ligue 1 and Bundesliga). But if I take all these elements into account, I'll play the coaching staff tomorrow (smiles). I try to manage, but I can't manage everything. You can have a glitch and still think you're physically good. You're never safe. If a player feels something negative, I'm not going to force it. If it was a decisive game... But hey, it's a lot of elements, I take them into account, as much as possible. I've got a team to make and I'm going to spread the playing time with the five changes. We'll adapt. There will be a number of changes, Adrien (Rabiot) will not be captain. Kylian (Mbappé)? Probably, yes. Antoine (Griezmann)? He can play a certain number of minutes, but yes, he will continue his streak (84th game in a row in Blue) tomorrow (Tuesday).
He (Kolo Muani) can do better, I can tell you again, but I think you're him. I've spoken to him, he's quiet and serene.
Didier Deschamps
If he has been in dialogue with Kolo Muani, who is struggling
, he is not so good for you. He can do better, I can tell you again, but I think you are him. I've spoken to him, he's quiet and serene. His context is different (transferred from Frankfurt to PSG), he has more eyes and demands around him. He's a young player who has steps to take. He wants things to go better for him.
Lucas Hernandez, central defender or full-back:
He can play in both positions. When I put him in the list, he's primarily at left-back. Against Greece, you'll see it tomorrow (Tuesday).
The competition for the No. 2 position between Samba and Areola
It's better that Alphonse (Areola) has more playing time (at club), last year he was number two. He put in some great performances. The hierarchy is good that it is defined in this position of goalkeeper. Today it's like that (Samba in 2, Areola in 3), but in March and June, it can change. If at some point I think it's better to do things differently, goalkeepers and outfield players alike know that.
