PARIS • The last time both sides met in a competitive match, France put on a performance full of attacking verve to run out 5-2 winners over Iceland in the quarter-finals of Euro 2016.
They have since gone on to lift the World Cup and, while many are expecting the national team to make light work of Group H to qualify for Euro 2020, Didier Deschamps is aware his players can sometimes be their worst enemy.
Ahead of their clash with Iceland at the Stade de France today, the Les Bleus coach said: "A lot depends on us. We have the quality, we all saw that (in the 4-1 qualifying win at Moldova)."
The former Juventus midfielder also backed Olivier Giroud to remain a pillar for the team.
The Chelsea striker has struggled for minutes this term, starting just six Premier League games under Maurizio Sarri, although he has starred in the Europa League with nine goals in as many matches.
Giroud netted three times in France's last six matches in all competitions and his strike last Friday saw him draw level with David Trezeguet as his country's third-highest scorer on 34 goals.
Admitting that the 32-year-old was "quite complementary with the other players", Deschamps told Sky Sports he would continue to lead the line as "his role is different and this allows our team to have a varied offensive play".
34
Goals Olivier Giroud has for France, making him their third-highest scorer, level with David Trezeguet.
He said: "His presence as a pivot is very useful. He scores goals. He does so too with his club."
The 50-year-old also revealed that despite France's heroics in Russia which saw them clinch their second World Cup last July, there were no fears over a lack of commitment to the cause.
Deschamps added: "I wasn't really worried because since the beginning of the week, I had told them what I wanted to tell them about the match through the sessions we had - there was a lot of dedication.
"The players know. The more experienced players I have like that, then the rest of the group follows.
"It seems normal and logical, but I do appreciate the quality and the mindset we have."
France will likely be without Bayern Munich winger Kingsley Coman for the Iceland game after he suffered a thigh injury in the warm-up for the Moldova opener.
Telling French TV station RMC Sport he was "not here to take chances", Deschamps said: "I have no problem using Blaise (Matuidi), who did not disrupt the collective (as his replacement)."
Lucas Digne will also be another absentee in Paris after the Everton full-back pulled out of the squad yesterday owing to injury.
Football: Klopp plays down Liverpool fatigue concerns ahead
Pep Guardiola vowed not to walk away from Manchester City as he hit back at the Financial Fair Play allegations rocking the Premier League champions. In a wide-ranging press conference ahead of
Ole rues missed chances - theworldnews.net
•Brazilian soccer great Pele had a successful operation to remove a kidney stone • Pele had also been admitted to hospital in France last week after suffering a fever following an event in the
Football: Pele recovering well after kidney stone operation
TURIN, Italy, (Reuters) - Cristiano Ronaldo headed a late equaliser to deny Torino their first win away to neighbours Juventus for 24 years as the two sides drew 1-1 in Serie A yesterday.
Late Ronaldo goal foils Torino | Free Malaysia Today
Even that drab Slovenia match foreshadowed the revival stirring beneath the surface as it was a late Kane goal that sealed the points. Fast forward 13 months and another last-gasp Kane winner produced far more euphoria. "He is the best goalscorer in the world. You are always loath to take off a player of that ability," Southgate said.
Southgate urges England to make 2019 even better - Football
MANCHESTER, England (REUTERS) - Manchester United produced their least impressive performance under interim manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as the Norwegian offered rare starts to some out-of-favour
Solskjaer maintains perfect start as United beat Reading in
adtest.supersport.com/football/fa-cup/news/190105/Solskjaer_maintains_perfect_start_as_United_beat_Reading_in_Cup
It was a subdued performance by the 12-times FA Cup winners at Old Trafford, where Reading impressed, but maintained former United striker Solskjaer's dream start to life in the hot seat vacated last month by Jose Mourinho who was sacked. Solskjaer becomes the first United manager to begin his reign with five straight wins since Matt Busby.
Manchester United : Solskjaer maintains perfect start as
Silverware matters most to Emery as Arsenal aim to win for missing Mkhitaryan It remains to be seen if Mkhitaryan's absence will handicap Arsenal on the field at the Baku Olympic Stadium, as
Silverware matters most to Emery as Arsenal aim to win for
hours of football in all competitions, but the visi- Iwobi, Lacazette lead Arsenal to win at Huddersfield ball match between Huddersfield Town and Arsenal at the John Smith's stadium in
A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on January 23, 2019, with the headline 'Ronaldo fined, not jailed for tax fraud'. Print Edition | Subscribe.
Juventus' Cristiano Ronaldo fined for tax fraud, avoids jail term
Alexandre Lacazette was sent off as Arsenal suffered a shock Europa League defeat to BATE Borisov in the first leg of their last-32 tie, with Stanislav Dragun's header separating the sides.
BATE Borisov 1-0 Arsenal REPORT: Lacazette sent off after
Ayoze Perez heads Newcastle closer to safety in EPL Newcastle United took a huge step towards securing their Premier League survival as Ayoze Perez sealed a 1-0 win against Leicester City on
Perez heads Newcastle closer to Premier League safety | AFP.com
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar