DESCHAMPS IS CERTAIN THAT REVENGE WILL HAVE NO PART
French coach playing down any effect of heinous Henry handball on today’s match
DIDIER DESCHAMPS was grilled about karma, fate, revenge and how unfair it was that his players have had a full week to rest, recuperate and prepare for today’s last 16 clash with the Republic of Ireland.
And that was just from the French media. ‘Wow what a question, had an Irishman asked me I would have understood it,’ he responded when it was pointed out that the tournament scheduling has favoured the host nation.
‘It is not a disadvantage as I would prefer three more days than fewer but with 24 teams we can’t all play at the same time. We’ve had a full week but whether it’s an advantage, I would prefer to be on our side.’
Once Ireland were confirmed as Les Bleus’ opponents in this first knockout stage, the country has once again been gripped by Thierry Henry’s infamous handball. L’Equipe have dedicated page after page to the incident which still makes them cringe with guilt.
A special programme was dedicated to that night in the Stade de France in 2009 with the full 120 minutes replayed and analysed. It’s as if the French had spent the last seven years in therapy attempting to rid themselves of this great shame and then, in one fell swoop, it has flooded their senses once again.
‘It means almost nothing at all to me,’ Deschamps insisted. ‘But whether you speak about it, I’m not going to use it and I haven’t used it. I’m not sure if Martin O’Neill will talk about it as it is part of history and this is a new chapter.
‘There is no revenge in football and we can’t change what happens in football. What we can change happens [today] but that will also be part of history the day after.
‘At the end of the match you’re either through or not. It does make things a little more exciting but it won’t inhibit us, we’re here for that. Our aim is to get over the next hurdle. We expected it and it’s always the case. It’s a second competition within the tournament which is about to begin.’
Victory for France will not be viewed as historic, simply another pitstop along their expected route to the final on July 10 in Paris. Goalkeeper Hugo Lloris described the hosts as ‘the team to beat’ and while their manager mentioned ‘battle’ time and again, he is also bracing himself for a more technical meeting of minds. ‘They have a lot of heart and work hard but it’s not just that, they have some good players who are honest and the large majority play in the Premier League and are used to playing against top English sides,’ the 1998 World Cup winner said. ‘From their first three games I see they can play on the deck, even