France manager Didier Deschamps remains optimistic despite goal-scoring struggles in Euro 2024 group stage, looking forward to a fresh start in the knockout rounds against Group E runners-up.
Germany, Bollywood Fever: France manager Didier Deschamps acknowledged the need for his team to sharpen up in front of goal at Euro 2024 but expressed optimism about the knockout rounds offering a fresh start. France concluded their group stage campaign with a 1-1 draw against Poland on Tuesday, finishing second in Group D with five points, behind surprise leaders Austria.
France will face the runners-up in Group E, which includes Romania, Belgium, Slovakia, and Ukraine, all currently tied at three points. Deschamps’ side began their Euro 2024 journey with a narrow 1-0 win over Austria, courtesy of an own goal, followed by a goalless draw against the Netherlands, and concluded with the draw against Poland where Kylian Mbappe scored from the penalty spot.
Deschamps is concerned about the team’s lack of goals but remains hopeful they can regain their scoring form from the qualifying rounds. “We need to score more goals, we need to be more clinical, and I am looking for that,” Deschamps told reporters. “We can improve but that’s it. We need to hit them where it hurts but we have always had a goal average that is quite impressive; for these three games it hasn’t quite been there. But I am positive, I am always positive. It is a new competition starting for us.”
France took the lead against Poland when Mbappe converted a penalty after Ousmane Dembele was fouled in the area. This was Mbappe’s first European Championship goal, returning to the side wearing a face mask due to a broken nose suffered in the opener against Austria.
Deschamps emphasized the importance of Mbappe’s return, despite the challenges posed by the mask. “I thought he was quite good on his feet, with the mask he had to get used to it even though when he sweats it stings in his eyes and he needs to wipe his eyes,” Deschamps said. “But he is hungry to play and the game will have done him some good.”
Poland equalized when Robert Lewandowski converted a retaken penalty, having initially missed, after France keeper Mike Maignan was deemed to have moved off his line. Despite 19 shots on goal, France couldn’t find a way past Poland’s goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski, who was named man-of-the-match.
Deschamps remained upbeat, stating, “No, I am not disappointed, honestly. Sometimes we weren’t accurate enough. We gave everything we had until the very end. We do have a lot of chances. But it’s not just about us not being accurate enough or getting shots on target. You also need to give credit where credit’s due to the goalkeeper.”
As France heads into the knockout stages, Deschamps and his team will aim to address their finishing issues and capitalize on the fresh start offered by the elimination rounds. The next challenge awaits against the runners-up of Group E, a match that will be crucial for France’s ambitions in Euro 2024.
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