After a sluggish first round, the French team
exploded to life in a thrilling 4-3 win over Argentina at the
start of the knockout phase and further verified impressive
credentials with a workman-like 2-0 victory over plucky Uruguay
in Friday’s quarter-final at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium.
"We had a complicated first round, without being flamboyant but
realistic and effective. We did not break our stride. But from
the match against Argentina, we have grown in strength," said
the France coach.
"We were the better team against Uruguay but there are still
some imperfections. We have a lot more potential to show."
Deschamps was most pleased by the fact a relatively young squad
"showed their maturity" albeit scenes of petulance near the end
could have cost one of two of the French a semi-final
suspension.
With an average age of 26, France came into the World Cup in
Russia with the second youngest 23-man squad.
"I have a young squad who are now working as a team and becoming
more and more resolute. You can see their state of mind is
positive and there has been a lot of progress," the coach said.
Advancing to the semi-finals allows Deschamps, who broke the
record as France’s longest serving coach during the first round,
another chance to emulate his playing success with a major
title. Deschamps was the midfield enforcer in France's 1998
World Cup winning side.
France were knocked out in the World Cup quarter-finals in
Brazil four years ago and beaten in Paris in the final of the
2016 European Championship.
Asked if he had now achieved his goal for this tournament by
making the final four, Deschamps has given little away.
"I like to reach objectives but I’m not looking at it from a
personal point of view. My pride is in my squad and my coaching
staff."
And can they go all the way to next weekend’s final? "We are in
the semi-finals," he smiled.
France take on their Belgian neighbors in St Petersburg on
Tuesday.
(Editing by Amlan Chakraborty)
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