France praise Croatia’s mental strength
I have tried to convey to the players that they are probably facing the most beautiful game of their lives. It is a privilege to play this game DIDIER DESCHAMPS, France coach
MOSCOW: One day ahead of the World Cup final against Croatia , France coach Didier Deschamps and captain Hugo Lloris said the team is calm and not affected by the euphoria that has swept the country. “There is no euphoria. Honestly, I don’t see it,” he said at the pre-match press conference, adding that the feeling among the players was instead one of satisfaction. “I have tried to convey to the players that they are probably facing the most beautiful game of their lives. It is a privilege to play this game; there is nothing more important,” he said.
Deschamps said his message to the players was to stay calm, confident and to concentrate. Skipper Lloris said the players have been keeping their mind away from the celebrations in France. “We are in our little bubble and we don’t know what is happening in France.”
“We face a high-quality opponent tomorrow. They deserve as much credit as we do,” said Lloris. “We are ready to finish everything on a high note. It may be the most important match in our careers. We shouldn’t spread ourselves too thin on details,” said Lloris.
The goalkeeper was careful not to downplay the strength of their opponents. “Croatia have shown their mental strength which is quite incredible. They have managed to qualify after extra-time three times in a row. There is something special in this team,” he said.
Asked to comment on Luka Modric, Deschamps hailed the midfielder’s influence. “Modric is very mobile and has a great technique base. He has a great influence on his team. Croatia are playing as a whole team. Modric can join an attacking play as well as in defence at any time,” he said.
With 14 players from his team having African ancestry, Deschamps said there was a sense of pride among his players to be representing the continent in the sport’s biggest game.
“They are all proud to be French. But through their origins, through their childhood, they have friends, families in these countries so they have a certain attachment to these countries and a certain pride that these people will see them play in a World Cup final,” he said. I am not sure whether France makes the world’s best automobiles but they have managed to send a football team to Russia that cruised into the final without having used all their gears.
That said, I think France should really come out all guns blazing against Croatia in Moscow on Sunday.
They should emerge from the defensive shell and be proactive. Despite all that has been said and all that Croatia have done --- and it does seem superhuman at times ---- they will be tired after three successive games didn’t end in regulation time. So, the setting is just right for France to be adventurous.
Just right for Paul Pogba to stride gazelle-like through the middle instead of lending his shoulder more to the defensive wheel where Samuel Umtiti and Raphael Varane are the leaders. I am talking of Pogba because I am sure Croatia won’t make the mistake of letting Kylian Mbappe get space.
Frankly, it is for France to lose this final. I know they did that once two years ago in the European championships and if there is one thing I am worried about, it is a repeat.
France seem to do well against teams whose reputations precedes their coming, such as Argentina, Uruguay and Belgium. They quelled the challenge from those strong teams without really breaking sweat.
But don’t forget they struggled against Australia and could only beat Peru 1-0. Don’t also forget they lost to a Portugal that played without Cristiano Ronaldo after 25 minutes in a final in Paris.
Croatia came back in the semi-final because England let them. They stayed back and let Croatia take charge of the game when they should have put it to bed.
If France get an early goal, I hope they won’t do that. And that is why I think France should cut back on their emphasis on defensive solidity and unleash their huge attacking talents on Croatia.
So far, Didier Deschamps has not done that in any game and it is a ploy that has worked well. Even though you don’t fix a thing that is not broken, maybe France could take a different approach on Sunday.
It was their constant stressing on formation that unhinged Argentina. They went to three defenders against Croatia and were carved open. So, I am saying France should stick to their 4-2-3-1 formation, only that they should start with a more attacking mindset.
Croatia will again have a lot riding on how Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic perform and it will have to be seen whether they again start with Marcelo Brozovic to provide additional defensive cover in the midfield.
A lot will also depend on how fit Ivan Perisic is because he was so crucial to Croatia’s resurgence in the semi-final. Reports have it that Perisic has a thigh injury. He may have sacrificed himself to ensure Croatia got over the line.
Croatia winning it will make for a greater story but having backed France all through because of their overall strength, I am still going for Deschamps’s men.