During the third matchday of the UEFA Nations League A, France drew 1-1 at home against Italy. After the match, Juventus defender Kalulu spoke to journalists in the mixed zone.

On the match:

Given the final result and the chances we created, it's natural to feel some regret, and that's true. However, tonight we're going to focus on the positives and look ahead, because we have another match very soon.

Bastoni said yesterday that he would be on a mission against you. Was it frustrating that he was the one who scored today?

Personally, I don't really like to judge my opponents. In other words, I didn't pay much attention to what he said beforehand. Congratulations to him for achieving what he wanted—he scored. But on the football pitch, we're always ready to fight. That's the same for any opponent.

What improvements does the team need to make for the next match against Belgium?

I need to review the match, but I think it might be our fluidity. Making our attacks a bit more fluid. Also, it's hard to compare directly because these two matches are completely different. So what I'm saying today, I don't think it will have a direct impact on the match against Belgium. It will be a completely different pressing style; the Belgians prefer to attack proactively, so it's complicated.

We saw a lot of impatience and tension on the pitch, especially when Upamecano was sent off. Do you think the circumstances and emotional atmosphere—including Zidane's return to the Stade de France—affected the result of this match?

No, in my opinion it was just an incident during the match. And actually, I don't fully agree with the first yellow card or the second one. That is to say, I think it was simply an incident of play—these things happen in football. It has nothing to do with external factors. We're all very happy to be at the Stade de France, and personally even more so, because it's my first time playing here. But that's all—nothing else is a factor.

The team played very high up the pitch. What instructions did the coach give the full-backs regarding the implementation of high pressing and overall tactical progression?

With this pressing style, we want to push our formation high and press them as high as possible, as you said. For the full-backs, our main instructions are man-marking. This forces them to clear the ball far, and we know we're very strong in one-on-one situations and physical duels, which allows us to win those balls and launch attacks immediately after regaining possession. And I think we executed that very well tonight, and I'm pleased you noticed it and brought it up.

Pierre, that split-second hesitation today was costly—for example, holding the ball too long, or not shooting decisively enough. Is this precisely what needs to be corrected urgently?

That's a very fair analysis. I think in our final third, maybe in the final touch. I'm largely responsible—I remember one shot where I felt I could have handled it faster, more decisively, more instinctively. And yes, these are indeed areas that require reflection and improvement. But I also want to say that against a team that puts four or five defenders in the box every time they defend, the situation is ultimately very difficult. You need excellent vision at the right moment, but I largely agree with what you've said.

One last question: do you think Italy really played today in the very "Italian" style that Zidane mentioned before the match?

From my experience in that league, their defense is very good. Their defense is excellent, their defensive system is well-organized and extremely rigorous. So if that's the characteristic of Italian football, then yes. As for their attack, I don't think they played with the style we see in Serie A, in the league, but it was their tactical plan, and that plan worked for them.

Traduit par IA.

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