‘This is a wake-up call’: Didier Deschamps happy with competitive friendly

Équipe de France coach Didier Deschamps was satisfied with his team’s performance in Sunday night’s 0-0 draw with Canada in Bordeaux, and overall content with the period of pre-Euro preparation that also saw them beat Luxemburg (3-0). 

Didier Deschamps comments on Bordeaux friendly stalemate

Despite tonight’s draw against Jesse Marsch’s enterprising Canada side, Deschamps saw plenty of reasons to be positive following the final warm up game before France’s opening EURO 2024 fixture against Austria next Monday: 

“On the whole, these ten days of preparation have gone well based on the energy and the spirit of the group every day. We had to manage the players arriving late, others who are nursing knocks. Tonight was a bigger test than Wednesday and all the better, this is a wake-up call before the Euros. There are players at very different stages of physical fitness, Adrien Rabiot and Aurélien Tchouaméni were not fit. It was important for us but it harms the rhythm of the team, but we had to spread out the minutes over these two games. Now there is a little break.”

One of the promising signs of the evening was the performance of N’Golo Kanté (33), back in the national fold after two years away due to injury and a lucrative move to Saudi Arabia: 

“For anyone who had doubts over his ability and his intensity, he is still at the same level. He is a great player, I have alot of great players in the midfield. He has had a great season, allowing him to remain at the same level. He showed that he is still in possession of all of his abilities.”

Sunday’s friendly marked the last appearance of Olivier Giroud (37) in his home country, Les Bleus’ record goalscorer bowing out of international football with EURO 2024 before relocating to the US to see out his career with LAFC in the MLS. Captain for the night, the former Chelsea, Arsenal and Montpellier received a standing ovation upon his substitution in the second half. 

GFFN | Jack McArdle