Doue: Paraguay received many yellow cards, reflecting their high intensity

At 5:00 AM CEST on July 5th, France will face Paraguay in the FIFA World Cup Round of 16. On the eve of the match, French forward Doue attended a press conference. This article covers the second half of the press conference.

Hello, Desire. Facing this Paraguayan team, which is expected to be very defensive, what do you think will be key? Perhaps patience?

Patience might be one of them, but that is it. We have to play the way we know how, with high intensity as usual, try to create as many chances as possible, and, inevitably, be very, very efficient. In a match like this, scoring early and scoring as many goals as possible is important, because anything can happen.

Hello, Desire. Returning to the topic of high temperatures, can you tell us specifically how your body feels in terms of physical exertion, intensity, and alertness when playing on a 40-degree field? In other words, is the physical toll still quite significant?

Yes, it will inevitably consume energy because when you play in hot weather, you sweat more and therefore lose more water. At some point, you might be a little less alert. But that's it. When we arrived in the United States, the weather was already hot. Today was very, very hot, and tomorrow will be very hot, but we are slowly adapting. As I said, both teams will experience the same conditions, but we will be ready tomorrow. We are physically ready to last the entire match.

Hello, we saw you smiling during the national anthem, looking very happy, especially after scoring your first goal in the FIFA World Cup, your first FIFA World Cup. Is this just a way to release a little pressure, or do you want to enjoy every moment of this FIFA World Cup?

Honestly, I am enjoying my first FIFA World Cup very much, and I think all players who have the chance to play in the FIFA World Cup feel nothing but happiness. That is why we see so much sadness and disappointment when a team is eliminated. This is a truly beautiful event, and when I smile during the national anthem, it is because I am very, very happy to be here. I have always dreamed of taking part in this event. Today, I have the honor of participating with the French team and representing my country, which is a source of pride.

Desire, what are your thoughts? What do you think of this Paraguayan team?

They are a very good team, an excellent one. We watched their match against Germany, and we also watched highlights of their other matches. They play with high intensity, have very strong players in both offense and defense, and will be very difficult to beat and difficult to deal with offensively, because they are very tenacious defensively. We know they received many yellow cards, but that also shows they bring a lot of intensity to every challenge. We must be prepared, we must rise to the challenge, and we must play a great game tomorrow.

Hello, Desire. Yesterday, Barcola told us at the press conference, and I quote, that the French team plays a bit as if they were playing in the neighborhood. Do you agree with Barcola's little joke, and specifically, what does that mean to you?

Yes, I think what he meant was that we play without overthinking too much. We are really playing to our strengths and doing what we do best. There are many talented players in this team, and our goal is to perform well. Of course, we are all trying to use our abilities and talents to serve the team. And , in order to win the match , that's what we'll be trying to do tomorrow.

Hello, Desire. Your situation is rather unique: your brother also participated in this FIFA World Cup but had to stop midway. I would like to know whether this sense of empathy will double your strength in the upcoming matches, and whether he will be an extremely important supporter for you throughout the rest of the tournament?

Of course, my brother is a very important person to me, and to be able to experience this FIFA World Cup with him, knowing that he could also take part and that he also performed very well, is a source of pride. I am truly very, very happy for him to have experienced this with the Côte d'Ivoire team. Now he has been eliminated; that is just the way the game goes, that is football. Of course, deep down, I want to go as far as possible and win this FIFA World Cup, and that is also for him, so he can be proud of me and feel happy as well.

Michael Olise is currently one of the best players in this tournament, and Thierry Henry has said that he is the most important player for the French team right now. What are your thoughts on that? And what is your relationship with him like, given that he does not speak to the media very often?

Yes, Michael, he is excellent. We have seen it game after game. Now he seems to have five assists, and to be so decisive in such a tournament is incredible. He brings a lot to us on the field. Honestly, I think all the players in the team get along very, very well with him. He is very discreet in front of the media, but everything is very good between us. We often joke around together, and that is it. I just hope he continues like this and keeps helping us. It is fantastic.

Hello, Desire. Let's talk again about your chemistry with Barcola and the sense of competition between you. Do you think it is accurate, or too simplistic, to describe you as a "small space" player and him as a "large space" player? How would you define your differences on the field and your potential complementarity?

Yes, I think it is a bit one-sided to put it that way, because each of us has many qualities. We are certainly different in our individual styles, and I know I can play in many positions in midfield, as well as as a striker, on the right, and on the left in attack. Barcola is more of a winger, but he has also played as a number 9, and he is very fast both with and without the ball. For me, of course, perhaps I am more comfortable in small spaces or playing in midfield, but that is it. We are two different types, and I think we are very complementary on the field.

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