400 French supporters in Greece
According to information from RMC Sport, 400 Blues supporters are expected at the OPAP Arena on Tuesday evening to watch France’s match against Greece.
Among them: 200 members of the Irrésistibles Français. Some fans traveled from Paris on Sunday to avoid the air traffic controllers’ strike.
Arthur Perrot
This is the end of this press conference
Thank you all for following along.
Deschamps at the level of Greece
“The first leg was difficult. There is quality in this team. On the attacking side there is good aggression. We only won 1-0. The Greek public will be completely behind them. They are preparing the month of March for them. It is an important match, I know they won’t see us play. It will be a high-level match.”
Deschamps about the planned turnover for tomorrow evening
“Yes, the intention is to make changes to the eleven. And during the match too (laughs). Mbappé captain? Yes, it is planned.”
Deschamps about the playing time given to young people
“I like the young players. If I think he is better than the older player, I will play against the young one.”
Deschamps about the lack of effort during tomorrow evening’s meeting
“If we respect the opponent, we will go to the end and score goals when we have the chances. That is the high level. Then we can also save it from time to time during the match. Tomorrow the challenge for Greece is to to prepare for the play-off. But it remains an international match, we will be judged on what we do.”
Deschamps announces that Griezmann will play tomorrow evening
“Yes, even if it takes 30 seconds, I will make sure he continues his streak”
Deschamps on Coman
“The fact that he can score more goals is good for him. He knows very well that this has not always been the case. It is better for him for his self-confidence, to give him even more freedom. He has the potential to be a to become a starter.” just like other players.”
Deschamps on a possible superstition
“Fortunately, there are no superstitions, otherwise we would not go to Qatar. We have set a good example by being the reigning world champions. Superstitions… We are not going to respond to that. We play the game to win.” “
Deschamps on Samba and Areola
“Brice, like his club, had a slightly more difficult start to the season. But he is a competitor, they have rectified the situation with RC Lens. Alphonse is doing good things, this year he is playing Premier League matches, he is winning at half time .” and performs well. The hierarchy is good that it is defined. But this could change in March or June. There is competition, if I think it is better to do it differently…”
Deschamps announces that Samba will start in goal
“Brice Samba will be the goalkeeper. For the rest, you will see tomorrow.”
Deschamps on Kolo Muani
“He is doing well, he is smiling. Less good on the field? He can do better. Of course I will talk to him in Kolo, as long as he keeps this calm. He has the qualities. He is still a young player, who has podiums .” to win. But he still has his serenity.”
How Deschamps will manage playing time
“On Friday evening I have eight players playing… So if I take all the elements into account, tomorrow I will let the coaching staff play. We can be very good, not tired and ultimately have a problem. That’s a lot of elements, I like it take into account as much as possible, I will also divide the times with the five changes.”
Deschamps on the ambition to be flawless
“This is not the Grand Slam of rugby… We are going to play to win, but that does not give us any special guarantees. Finding levers is important, but is that the case… We want to remain flawless.” “
What position for Lucas Hernandez?
Deschamps: “He can play in both positions. When I put him on the list, he was mainly as a left back. You will see tomorrow.”
Didier Deschamps has arrived
Let’s go for the question and answer session with the coach.
It’s over for Rabiot
Didier Deschamps must now follow him in front of the media.
Rabiot about Pogba, provisionally suspended for doping
“I don’t know what will happen to him. We talk, we saw each other before the selection, we had dinner together. You know, Paul, he always laughs very cheerfully, very outgoing. Of course I think the situation matters.” I hope he gets the least difficult sanction. Dejected, I think we all are. He’s a great player, a great man. Facing everything he had to face, that’s a lot for one person.’
Rabiot about his place in the group
“I am someone who is very open outside the media, TV and everything that has to do with social networks. I prefer to reserve everything that is external myself.”
“I think we can all be leaders in our own way. More of a leader on the field, in the locker room, in the privacy of the locker room. Discuss with everyone, give advice… It’s more my personality. I think that “We need all these different personalities in the group. That’s what makes this team great.”
Rabiot on being sent to a press conference
“Something I appreciate? I won’t go that far. It is something that is fixed. The players direct, we do it seriously and professionally. It is also a certain sign of confidence.”
Rabiot on his role in the French team
“I have often said that I had a different role at Blue than at Juve. My role at the French team is to balance this team.”
Rabiot about the motivation to play such a match
“It’s always complicated because it’s a time when we play a lot. In November there are often a lot of injuries. The best way to avoid getting injured is to make the most of the match and not to wait. “
“Every time I step on the field I have motivation. We have challenges, challenges that we set ourselves, like finishing these qualifiers with the maximum number of points. If we win and do better than Argentina against Brazil, we will year to finish first in the FIFA rankings.”
The Blues better than at the World Cup?
Rabiot: “I don’t know the best. But we are in continuity in what we have done well. We are serious, determined in every match. What we are doing at the moment, we are doing well. That shows that the group is doing well .”
Let’s go for this press conference
Adrien Rabiot arrived before the journalists.
Too late for the press conference
As of 5 p.m., Adrien Rabiot and Didier Deschamps have not yet arrived in the press room.
Still 4,000 places for sale
According to the Greek Football Association, 27,000 spectators are expected on Tuesday evening. There are still approximately 4,000 places for sale.
AP, in Athens
The Blues play on a very marked pitch
The lawn of the OPAP Arena, AEK Athens’ usual stadium, is highly marked ahead of Tuesday evening’s meeting between Greece and France. Clear skies and 16 degrees forecast for kick-off.
AP, in Athens
Rabiot with Deschamps at a press conference
The French team’s plane landed in Athens at 1:15 p.m. local time on Monday, on the eve of the match against Greece on Tuesday (8:45 p.m., Euro 2024 qualifiers). Didier Deschamps and Adrien Rabiot will answer media questions at a press conference at 6 p.m. local time. (F. Hawkins)
“I’m amazed” Riolo was surprised by the Blues after the historic card against Gibraltar
Daniel Riolo in the After on RMC: “Such scores, you never see them. I’m amazed by what we saw. Fourteen goals, that’s something sick, something from before the war. It’s crazy things, seven goals, plus seven goals .” Often these types of matches end with a final half hour of absolute boredom. We have a team that wanted to play from start to finish. And wanted to break records.”
>> Find Daniel Riolo and all After podcasts here
Hello all
Welcome to RMC Sport to follow all the information about the Blues live before the final Euro 2024 qualifying match for Greece-France on Tuesday evening in Athens (8.45pm). Didier Deschamps’ players have already qualified and remain on a historic victory, the biggest in the history of the French team, against Gibraltar, 14-0, on Saturday in Nice.