France manager Didier Deschamps gave a press conference at the side’s base at Clairefontaine today ahead of the national team’s matches against Sweden and Albania.
On Layvin Kurzawa’s inclusion: “The circumstances (injury to Trémoulinas) have meant that I have had to go back on my initial position on not picking any of the France U21s and I have now taken Kurzawa. I have no regrets about what I said (he initially announced that he would not call up any France U21s after their cataclysmic exit from EURO 2015 and the Olympics 2016). What is important is the interests of the team. I did not call up Kurzawa in order to make the headlines. His arrival was discreet.”
On Loic Perrin: “He has a little niggle. He will have to work on an adapted training regime in the next 2-3 days.”
On Maxime Gonalons: “Gonalons has been here before. He performs well in front of the defence. It was logical for me to call him up.”
On strategy: “It is probable that there will be less changes in these two matches than last month.”
On the left back position: “There is competition in all areas of the pitch. There is no need to create a duel between Digne and Kurzawa.”
On goalkeepers: “I do not think that Benoit Costil will be starting the game in Rennes against Albania.”
On Albania: “Albania have only conceded 3 goals in 7 games. They also beat Portugal.”
On Mamadou Sakho: “Mamadou Sakho has had a relapse of his muscle problem. With the agreement of Liverpool, we have brought him to Clairefontaine for treatment.”
On the captaincy: “There is a captain, he is Hugo Lloris. That will not change.”
On Alexandre Lacazette: “He has never scored so many goals before. Hubert Fournier told me: “All the better if you don’t take him. He will make even bigger waves in that case.”
On Karim Benzema: “Karim Benzema is unjustly criticised in France. We are always asking him to do better but abroad, they would all like to have him.”
