‘We only needed one point and were up against one of the world’s best teams’
France manager Didier Deschamps and Denmark counterpart Age Hareide were both left with a sense of mission accomplished after their sides progressed from Group C to take their places in the World Cup last-16.
A mutually beneficial 0-0 draw at the Luzhniki Stadium yesterday allowed the French to finish top of the group and the Danes to qualify in second spot. It was the first goalless draw played out in the 2018 tournament after 36 games.
France were already assured qualification, while Denmark could have only been denied qualification had they lost to France and had Australia beaten Peru in the match being simultaneously played in Sochi.
But with the Peruvians leading 2-0 before the hour in that game, the Moscow clash settled down to little more than a canter.
“It was our objective to ensure we were first out of the group. The objective was achieved,” Deschamps said.
“It was very difficult. Teams are very well prepared and it’s not easy against such a packed defence.”
Hareide was also satisfied with the result, saying: “We just needed one point, right?
“We were up against one of the best counter-attacking teams in the world. We would have been stupid if we opened up. We played to get the result and we did it.”
France striker Olivier Giroud admitted the match was a poor spectacle, but seemed to level the blame at Denmark for their lack of ambition.
“We showed some good things in the first half but missed the final ball,” he said.
“Yes the second half was bad – but you need two teams to make a football match. We know what we need to improve on going forward.”
Giroud’s strike partner Antoine Griezmann insisted that it’s important France now refocus after achieving their target of winning the group.
“What do I take from that match? That we finished in first place in our group and move on,” he said. “Denmark came to defend the draw and we weren’t going to tire ourselves out.”