Didier: ‘No anti-Ronaldo recipe’
DIDIER DESCHAMPS is looking to lead France to silverware once again, though the head coach knows what a tough ask lies in wait in the Euro 2016 Final against Portugal.
Tonight’s encounter promises to be a fascinating clash as Les Bleus look to end a 16-year wait to become continental champions.
Deschamps was key in France’s last success after skippering his country to Euro 2000, having done the same as they won the World Cup on home soil two years earlier.
Now the 47-year-old is looking to lead France to another memorable triumph, with the 103-cap former midfielder described by captain Hugo Lloris as “the architect” of the current crop’s run to the final.
“It’s the players’ attributes, and the mindset,” Deschamps said when told of the comments.
“But this is the work I do with my staff on a daily basis, every time we meet up with the team.
“We’ve had two years of friendly matches. We didn’t win every fixture but we’ve tried to retain the mindset.
“The players have done everything we’ve asked of them.
“When it’s just sport for fun, it’s about enjoying yourself, but at toplevel sport winning is what matters. There’s nothing better than winning.
“Football is by no means an exact science, it comes down to very small margins, but once you’ve done everything, given everything, people have no regrets and we’re really driven forward by this mindset.”
France are the bookmakers’ favourites but few would argue the best player taking to the turf will be Portugal forward Ronaldo.
Buoyed by a match-winning display in the semi-final against Wales, the 31-year-old is relishing the chance to spearhead a first Portuguese major tournament win.
“If there is an anti-Ronaldo plan, no one has found the recipe,” Deschamps said. “He’s a top player, he’s got great athletic attributes in the air.
“It’s not just that he can get up high, but he can hang there as well.
“But there are two things that are very tough to combat in football: pace and the aerial threat.
“It would be great to neutralise him, but we need to be wary and limit his influence.”