Didier Deschamps admits it is impossible to keep every France player happy at Euro 2024 (Image: Getty)
Didier Deschamps admits there are unhappy campers in his France squad heading into the Euro 2024 knockout rounds. Les Bleus have landed themselves a tough last-16 battle with Belgium on Monday after finishing runners-up to Austria in Group D.
The talent in France’s ranks is both a blessing and a curse, with Deschamps forced to leave big names out every game. Eduardo Camavinga, Marcus Thuram and, most shockingly of all, Antoine Griezmann were all benched for the 1-1 draw with Poland last time out.
After the match, in which Kylian Mbappe and Robert Lewandowski both scored from the spot, Deschamps was forced to defend his team selection.
“(Griezmann) plays every match,” he said. “Maybe Antoine has a bone to pick but for me it's not a problem. It's a choice, like I made with Marcus and a few others.
“For the round of 16, we have time. (Griezmann) took it as a professional, with a smile, there's no problem. There are others who aren't happy, that's normal, but I can't please everyone.”
Mbappe remains France’s difference-maker and he is firmly back in the fold after breaking his nose during the group stages. Having opened his tournament account against Poland, Real Madrid’s new signing has his protective face mask at the ready ahead of Monday’s trip to Dusseldorf.
Antoine Griezmann was restricted to a cameo off the bench against Poland (Image: Getty)
Pre-match debate is dominated by whether Mbappe should play on the left wing or through the middle. Deschamps won’t want to give the Belgians any hints on that front, though he claims his star player is coping well with his new look.
He said: “Kylian, for everything he went through, on the days when it was complicated for him, I found his legs to be pretty good. He's getting used to the edge of the mask, even though it leaks into his eyes when he sweats.”
France have underwhelmed so far despite arriving in Germany among the tournament favourites. A laboured group-stage campaign yielded draws with Holland and Poland, and a narrow win over Austria.
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Les Bleus only found the net twice across those three games - once from the spot, and the other courtesy of a Maximilian Wober own-goal. And though upcoming opponents Belgium have also struggled for form, France may have to find another gear in pursuit of the quarter-finals.
Deschamps is ready to draw a line under the group stages and kick things up a notch heading towards the later rounds of a major tournament, where France tend to come into their own.
“The first objective has been achieved,” he said. “We will play in the last 16 and a new competition will begin. The impression you give in the first round is not always the impression you give for the rest of the tournament. We deserve to be second in the group but qualifying was our goal. Now it will be up to us, there are only big games left.”
