Didier Deschamps said France vs Sweden will not prompt a change of approach, with France set to keep attacking when they play the round of 32 match in New York on Tuesday. The France head coach returned to the squad on Friday after time at home following the death of his mother last week.
He framed the game as a knockout test in the World Cup and made the point that France have already shown what they can do in front of goal. They scored 10 goals in the group stage, and Deschamps said that output has kept the favourites tag on Les Bleus.
Deschamps and Les Bleus
Deschamps said France have a capacity for danger and wants that edge to stay intact. He also said the team need to be efficient when they do not have possession, which puts the balance of the side under pressure rather than changing its intent.
That balance is the real issue. France have created chances, but Deschamps said they conceded too many goalscoring opportunities in the group stage, and he expects questions over whether they can keep playing the same way without tightening up when Sweden attack back.
France Injury Concerns
Marcus Thuram will not be fit for the game because of a little muscular issue. N’Golo Kanté looks set to be fit for the bench, while William Saliba continues to be managed with a back injury.
Adrien Rabiot said Deschamps’s return after compassionate leave mattered to the group, saying the coach came back with willpower to go as far as possible. France now go into the last-32 tie with the same attacking brief, the same injury questions and the same need to make that approach work against a solid Sweden side with world-class forwards, set pieces and long throw-ins.
