‘If they don’t like it they can change the channel’ – Didier Deschamps on ‘boring’ critics

George Boxall, reporting from Dortmund

France manager Didier Deschamps hit back critics accusing his side of playing ‘boring’ football in his pre-match press conference ahead of Les Bleus facing Poland in Dortmund on Tuesday evening. In a press conference attended by Get French Football News, Deschamps said “you [the media] are free to write and do what you want but it’s annoying to not have scored with all the chances we made.”

“It’s been a long time since we’ve had such control and created five or six chances,” Deschamps pointed out, in reference to Les Bleus‘ domination of the ball during their goalless draw against the Netherlands. “We’ve got a great support in the stadium [from France fans], and more than ten million in front of their telly. If they don’t like it they can change the channel. Not scoring is the negative point,” finished the France boss.

Deschamps: ‘I’m not worried’

“My life outside management is something else. As a coach, I have peace of mind with my staff and internally … I’m not worried. I would have preferred to have been more effective, that would have given us two more points. All games are difficult, just look at the Germany game yesterday.”

Les Bleus face an already-eliminated Poland side tomorrow evening (18:00 CET) hoping to seal first place in Group D. A win and a superior goal difference to the Netherlands is needed in order to seal the all-important top spot, with the Dutch facing Austria at the same time as France.

GFFN | George Boxall