In the memory of followers of the Blues, Didier Deschamps has never been so sharp and incisive in his attacks towards a member of the French Football Federation.
This Thursday at the 3F headquarters, after revealing his list of 23 for the March gathering, the boss of the vice-world champions crushed Hubert Fournier, the DTN.
A smashing in order.
In front of microphones and televisions.
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Asked about the implementation of a global strategy by the former coach of Guingamp or Lyon within the selections on the subject of penalties, with the desire to see the French teams perform in this sector of the game, Deschamps seized the ball on the bounce.
It's not that I don't think it can be worked on (penalties).
[...] I am convinced, and my past as a player gives me information, that it is impossible to recreate the same situation on the phycological and athletic levels in a training session compared to a match with overtime.
Didier Deschamps
In a response lasting more than six minutes, he simply sharply tackled Fournier, already assuring that the latter would not come to Clairefontaine (“
it is not planned in the program
”) next week to explain his project.
“
My position, I was able to talk about lottery
, adjusts “DD” on a subject that irritates him.
It is a balance of power between the shooter and the goalkeeper.
It's not that I don't think it can be worked on.
Since I have been coach, we have had players who took penalties.
I am convinced, and my past as a player gives me information, that it is impossible to recreate the same situation on a phycological and athletic level in a training session compared to a match with overtime, 120 minutes... The last one was 143 minutes
(in the World Cup final, including stoppage time, Editor’s note).”
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So much for the contextualization, obviously with the backdrop of the penalty session lost against Switzerland in the round of 16 of Euro 2021 and more recently in the final of the 2022 World Cup against Argentina.
What follows is a full-blown attack on the DTN.
With a clear message.
Everyone stays in their place.
“
That there are studies done on that, no problem.
On the other hand, what bothers me and what I find inappropriate is the media outing of DTN
(Hubert Fournier).
Out of place, and I would even say disrespectful, but not in relation to me, in relation to all the national coaches, the goalkeepers, the video analysts... Guys who are competent, who do a job, who prepare... We are preparing for the penalty shootouts.
We know well that not all matches lead to penalty shootouts
.”
An outing which inevitably shook the walls of the FFF, with exchanges via media which the federal body would have done well without.
"Bad intentions"
Relaunched after his long response, Deschamps, annoyed, wanted to conclude, without hiding his dissatisfaction.
“
I didn't feel attacked, no, but there are subjects on which we suddenly have the impression that we haven't done anything before... There are other subjects which bother me. interested.
I'll give you one for example: why is it difficult, in France, to have full backs.
Good question.
Who can answer it?
I don't know.
The DTN?
Maybe.
What if I felt attacked?
No, it's not me.
There is no problem.
I make sure to understand, to be corporate, I rely heavily on the DTN, I have all the observers who come from the DTN, no problem.
Afterwards, there may be bad intentions, and I'm not specifically targeting the DTN, of certain people... It's common knowledge, but it's not embarrassing
(smile).
I am open to new experiences, but you also need experience.
Being on the bench, managing, it’s important.
All the national youth team coaches are there.
They work.
And I have respect for them (…) Unfortunately, the result does not prove him right and it proves me wrong too
.
»
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