DIDIER DESCHAMPS PROVIDES VERY UNLIKELY RESPONSE TO FRANCE FAILING TO TOP GROUP

Didier Deschamps admitted that France "deserve to be second" after they were beaten to top spot in Group D - but maintained Les Blues are "where we want to be".

The World Cup winners of 2018 completed an underwhelming group phase by drawing with Poland, who failed to win a game. It meant that the impressive Austrians were able to finish top of the pile and land themselves a spot on the favourable half of the draw.

France meanwhile now find themselves in the same bracket as Spain, Portugal and Germany - making their life a lot harder as they eye a first Euros triumph since 2000. Kylian Mbappe scored from the spot on Tuesday evening meaning France are yet to score a goal from open play in the tournament.

Despite that their manager seemed upbeat about their situation: “I’m not disappointed, sincerely not at all. We did what we needed to do, we created a lot of chances and led in the game. We tried until the end. We are where we want to be. We were in a very difficult group: Austria lost against us and won against the Netherlands. We deserve to be second.

"It's a new competition in the last 16. Obviously it’s something that we need to improve, to score more goals. But I would have been more worried if we had less chances to score to be honest."

France came into the tournament as the favourites alongside England, who have also underwhelmed. Les Bleus beat Austria in their opening game thanks to an own goal before their goalless draw with the Netherlands.

Deschamps, who has now been in charge for a decade, delivering just one major success despite the riches on offer to him, will see his France team face the runners-up of Group E in the last 16 before, likely, facing Portugal in the last eight. Spain or Germany will then wait in the semi-finals, if results go as predicted.

Mbappe will need to fire if France are to land themselves a third ever Euros. The forward, who has just signed for Real Madrid, has excelled at World Cups in the past but is playing in Germany with a mask after breaking his nose, which comes with its own challenges.

The France boss said: “I thought he was quite good on his feet but with his mask he needs to get used to it. When he sweats it stings in his eyes and he needs to wipe his eyes but he is always so keen to play and the game will do him good."

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2024-06-26T06:59:31Z dg43tfdfdgfd