Beijing time (CEST) July 1, in the Round of 16 of the FIFA World Cup, France defeated Sweden 3-0. After the match, France's head coach Deschamps attended a press conference.

Below is the second part of the press conference:

First, in the Round of 16, were you surprised by Germany's elimination by Paraguay? Also, this brings back a memory you know well: at the 1998 FIFA World Cup, France also faced Paraguay in the Round of 16, and you were on the pitch then. Will you use that match as an example to tell the players how difficult this match will be, to help them prepare?

Deschamps: If there's one thing I absolutely won't discuss with the players, it's my own past experience. Because in 1998, many of them weren't even born yet, and even if they were, they were just children, so those experiences really mean nothing to them.

Of course, if I had to make a comparison, I would still hope we can play a bit more easily this time. But I also know Paraguay's strength very well; they have plenty of excellent players, and they inherently possess that aggressiveness. You could say their football "DNA" is about defending well, fighting hard, and maintaining the game.

I've also watched their matches. Of course, Germany is also a very strong team. The fact that Paraguay reached this stage means they truly have the ability. Therefore, in a match like this, they will definitely give everything to win. So I won't immediately discuss these things with the players. I'll let them rest well first and recover their physical strength. Once we truly enter the preparation phase, we'll communicate all the information to them gradually. And when facing South American teams, there are indeed some special aspects to pre-match preparation.

After Mbappe scored, there was a very touching moment where he ran to embrace you, and then all his teammates gathered around. This team is on a mission to challenge for the championship, and this scene gave the impression that the team has very strong cohesion and unity. Did you also notice this unity? And did Kylian's gesture deeply move you?

Deschamps: Of course. From a personal standpoint, Mbappe's gesture deeply moved me. He is our captain. I'm not praising him just for the sake of it. From the day he joined the team, he has been a true role model. This team is already very united. When I'm not there, they still do what they should do. Since my return, they know I'm always with them. That's very good.

A team's mental state alone cannot guarantee you win matches, but I'm very clear that it can completely cause you to lose. So from that perspective, although I understand that some players may feel disappointed and frustrated due to insufficient playing time or not getting to play, ultimately, collective strength always comes first. And as captain, Mbappe is the best example of this spirit.

Diterjemahkan oleh AI.

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