Coach Didier Deschamps feels France beat a good England side with their “heart and guts” on Saturday to move into the World Cup semi-finals and keep alive their hopes of back-to-back titles.
An Olivier Giroud header 12 minutes from time kept alive French hopes of becoming the first team in 60 years to retain the World Cup after a 2-1 win over England in the quarter-final clash.
“It’s fabulous. It was a big game,” Deschamps stated.
“We played a superb England team who are strong technically and physically. It’s brilliant for the players to be in the last-four stage again. In these moments, you kind of wish time could stop for a while.
“But we certainly enjoyed and savoured this win. We got a bit lucky as well, as we gave away two penalties. Nonetheless, we maintained our lead with our hearts and our guts, which seem to be powering and driving us.”
Deschamps added: “I’ve watched all the quarter finals. No team that has qualified for the semi-finals was in control of its game right through, or maybe even the majority of the time.
“I would’ve preferred if we hadn’t given England some gifts, but they were at a really high level.”
England captain Harry Kane equalised with a penalty in the 54th minute but sent the second one half an hour later over the crosspiece.
Giroud, who passed Thierry Henry to become France’s all-time top goal-scorer earlier in the tournament, said Les Bleus had to be at their best to beat England.
“My goal, the 53rd, is even better (than equalling Henry). I had a chance just before that, which I feel I should have shot harder and scored,” Giroud said.
“I thought I might get another chance and when it came to me, it was an unbelievable feeling to score. You need to keep believing.
“We knew the potential of this young England team. They have everything, but we played a solid game and we tried to hurt them on the break. We went for it with all our mental strength.”
France will be the obvious favourites when they play Morocco, the first African team ever to reach the semi-final after their 1-0 win over Portugal, on Wednesday looking to reach a third World Cup final after winning the title in 1998 and 2018.
“We will prepare for the next game thoroughly. Morocco deserve praise,” Deschamps said.
“Maybe they were not expected here (in the last four), but they conceded only one goal and then, seeing them here is not a surprise at all.”
Deschamps refused to look beyond the semi-final against Morocco when asked about his future with France. “I will be the manager for the semi-final game and after that, we will see.
“I don’t know everything in advance. We will tackle that later,” he said.
According to reports in the French media, France are open to continuing with Didier Deschamps as the manager of the national team until at least the 2024 European Championship. As per Les Parisien, Deschamps has revealed in private his aspirations of continuing to coach France beyond this year, but only if Les Bleus reach the final.
Noel Le Graet, the French Football Federation president, had announced before this World Cup that Deschamp could decide on his future if France qualified for the semi-finals.
If Deschamps continues even after the ongoing WorldCup, that would come as a blow to any immediate aspirations that the legendary Zinedine Zidane may hold of becoming France’s manager.
Written with Reuters inputs
