Deschamps Recognizes Spain as the Best Team in EURO
Didier Deschamps, the French National Team Coach, Acknowledged in a Press Conference that the Spanish National Team, Which They Will Face in the EURO 2024 Semifinals, "Has Played the Best" in the Entire Tournament and Reminded Everyone that "La Roja" Has Always Had a Strong Midfield, Key to Their Success.
The French coach was full of praise for the team led by Luis de la Fuente. In 24 hours, France and Spain will face each other at the Allianz Arena in Munich, and Deschamps analyzed Spain while evaluating his team's chances of reaching the grand final in Berlin.
"Spanish teams always have the ability to have a strong midfield. Pedri is not there, obviously (due to injury), but they have the ability to help their team maintain control of the match. This makes them a tough team. Rodri, especially, is a player who is the backbone of Spain. But it's all of them in Spain, everything they've been doing since the beginning of the tournament. I don't want to put pressure on them, but they have been the best team in this Eurocup and that's the impression I have," he stated.
He also spoke about how France can stop Spain's wingers, Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams: "If they have the ball, we have to try to defend against them. But we can also try to prevent them from receiving the ball, for example. We can also limit their attacking ability within the match. They have a lot of quality and are players who give them an extra edge. They have a different physicality with these two players and give Spain other possibilities," he declared.
Regarding Kylian Mbappé's condition and how their best player is doing after having an erratic tournament marked by a nasal fracture that forces him to play with a mask, he reported that the Real Madrid player will be "110 percent football-wise" although physically "not entirely well."
"We wanted him to rest as much as possible. We would have loved to have one more day to rest. We have done everything possible for him to do so and I am convinced that he is mentally in good condition. It has nothing to do with the last match. He had a back problem, the mask, the blow to the nose... It could have been the end of the tournament but he is still with us. He is getting used to the new playing conditions and I am convinced that he will give everything with the group," he said.