The response from Didier Deschamps, the manager of the French national football team, regarding recent criticism of his team’s playing style at the Euro 2024 tournament has been resolute. Despite the suggestion that the French team has been playing ‘dull’ football due to only scoring three goals in the tournament, two of which were own goals, Deschamps defended his team by highlighting the difficulties of scoring in a tournament where many teams have struggled to find the back of the net, despite having talented players such as Kylian Mbappe, who has only scored once in the tournament.
When questioned by a Swedish journalist about the perceived dullness of his team, Deschamps made a light-hearted remark, jesting that the journalist must be French in disguise. Furthermore, he dismissed the notion that his team’s style of play is boring, stating that those who find France’s games unentertaining should seek other matches to watch. He additionally emphasized the team’s shared goal of bringing joy to the people of France through their performances, especially during a challenging time for the country.
Looking ahead to the semi-finals against Spain, Deschamps acknowledged the difficulty of the impending match but conveyed confidence in his team’s ability to compete against a formidable opponent. Despite their low goal-scoring record, France’s performance in the tournament has been commendable, securing wins against Belgium and Portugal in the knockout stages and finishing second in their group.
In summarising, Deschamps’ retort to criticism of the French national team’s playing style at Euro 2024 offers insight into the team’s standpoint and determination to attain success in the tournament. While acknowledging the challenges they confront, Deschamps expresses unwavering confidence in his team’s capacity to deliver compelling performances and leave a mark on the pitch.