Didier Deschamps and Olivier Giroud, during the last group match of Euro 2024, against Poland, at the BVB Stadion in Dortmund (Germany), on June 25, 2024. ANTONIN THUILLIER / AFP

From his ten international competitions played as a player and then coach, Didier Deschamps knows it better than anyone: a Euro or a World Cup is not won only on the pitch. Behind the facade of the eleven starters are other players, and they all form a collective whose solidity – in the mind of the coach – is one of the essential conditions for success. “The success of the coach is the group he manages to build, from the staff to the players”supports Antoine Griezmann.

After a month of living together, including two and a half weeks in the Bad Lippspringe base camp, the symbiosis desired by the coach does not yet appear obvious to observers. The fault lies in disappointing results during the group stage. Before facing Belgium in the round of 16, Monday July 1 at 6 p.m. in Düsseldorf, Didier Deschamps did not offer playing time to as many people as possible, as he likes to do in the management of his group.

When everything goes without a hitch and the third match of the group stage has fewer stakes, the Basque has the opportunity to start his replacements during the last meeting. This so-called “hairdressers” match never ended with a victory during the Deschamps era, but it has the merit of involving players who are aware that they will a priori spend more time on the sidelines than on the bench. lawn by the end of the tournament.

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During the World Cup in Qatar, at the end of the group stage, 24 of the 25 Blues had played at least one match; only the third goalkeeper in the hierarchy, Alphonse Areola, had not played in the competition. In Germany, Deschamps not only made few changes in the first three acts, but he was also forced to field his best team against Poland on Tuesday to try – in vain – to finish first in Group D.

Disappointing performance

Before the match against Belgium, seven players had not yet played a single minute, while the substitutes who entered the game had to make do with crumbs. A situation far from ideal during a competition lasting several weeks. “When you play football, it’s a long wait”said with a smile Benjamin Pavard, who had learned to be patient during the 2022 World Cup, starting as a starter before being relegated to the bench.

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“I was sad, of course. But I didn’t want to create a bad atmosphere in the group, so I kept smiling. The collective is the most important thing.”he confided to Monde before the start of the Euro. A positive speech given by all the substitutes interviewed in recent days. “We have to give everything, regardless of playing time. The important thing is to know your role, to do your best and not to have any qualms”says Kingsley Coman, who is playing his fourth competition with the Blues, never with the status of a starter.

Even if the warning signs are not flashing in all directions, the staff remains attentive to several reasons for frustration that may have emerged in recent days. Given the disappointing performances of the Blues, some understudies may wonder about their role. “Of course he wants to play. It’s not easy but he’s hanging on and is ready.”assures the relative of a player currently confined to the bench.

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Some cases appear more sensitive than others. What does Antoine Griezmann really think, deep down, used to playing high-stakes matches, but who suffered a form of downgrading by not starting against Poland? How does Ferland Mendy, Real Madrid starter, cope with being on the sidelines? Perceived as a new executive of the France team before the Euro, Ibrahima Konaté lost his place to William Saliba in central defense. For Warren Zaire-Emery too, an 18-year-old prodigy who is not used to waiting, time can seem long.

Didier Deschamps and his staff are committed to preventing any implosion of the blue group. If the major selections often work with several specific coaches, the Basque has chosen to surround himself with a close guard made up of only three men: Guy Stéphan, his assistant, Franck Raviot, the goalkeeping coach, and Cyril Moine , the physical trainer. A minimalist organization that Deschamps favors in order to optimize the transmission of information. READ FULL STORY HERE>>>CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING>>>

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Between the four of them, they are loaded “to keep all players involved”explains Didier Deschamps, “because a major competition is above all a human adventure”. So that the replacements do not feel like they are being left behind, “We talk to the players at different times of the day. We reassure them, we answer their questionsexplains Cyril Moine. We are not just here to put markers on the ground. [à l’entraînement] and whistle”.

“Everyone is pulling in the same direction”

If certain selections use mental trainers to carry out this work, Didier Deschamps considers that it is his responsibility and that of his faithful associates. “We don’t pretend to erase the players’ disappointment when there is any. But we think we have the capacity to help them overcome this disappointment”judges Guy Stéphan. Even if the task has become more difficult for this restricted staff since UEFA gave the selections the possibility of calling up 26 players during a competition (Deschamps selected 25 for this Euro), against 23 previously.

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Additional egos to spare are not nothing when the results are not as good as hoped and the parallel subjects can weigh on the atmosphere reigning at the base camp: the legislative elections, the broken nose of Kylian Mbappé , chaotic travel in Germany. “In a group there are two forcesexplains Guy Stéphan. That of the players and that of the staff. Both must aim towards the same objective. Within these two forces, there can be moods, but we must manage to move forward despite everything. »

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During this first part of the Euro, these two entities seem to flourish less than at the World Cup in Qatar, where the good atmosphere was praised almost daily by the players. “There is a little frustration, but not enough to kill the group. Everyone is pulling in the same direction”assures a close friend of an experienced Tricolor. “Those who play less may feel like they’re left out, but that’s not the case here”indicates Jonathan Clauss, who has not yet played in this tournament.

Like his teammates, the Olympique de Marseille full-back was able to enjoy a visit from his loved ones at the base camp after the match against Poland. A break deemed essential by the Blues’ staff, particularly to alleviate some frustrations, before entering the final phase of the competition. “The players who have played less, we may need them at some point. They have to be happy to be there. That’s what group life is all about.”concludes Guy Stéphan. An essential fact because no one has forgotten that, in Qatar, it was from the substitutes’ bench that the revolt came in the World Cup final.

Denis Ménétrier (Paderborn [Allemagne]correspondent)

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2024-06-30 08:00:14
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