After 2018, “a whole different story”
Didier Deschamps (France coach): “The context of a final is special because there’s a different emotional side to each player. When it’s the first final for a player, there are fewer points of reference. When you have the opportunity and the privilege to play several, certainly it helps.
Hugo Lloris (France goalkeeper): “As for the 2018 final, it’s a different context, different opponents. We live in the present moment. It can serve as a reference but it’s a completely different story. We want to write our story with this group and we want to finish in the best possible way. That that we got is very strong, but it is the last game that is more difficult. You have to prepare yourself for a great game, be ready to suffer, to make the effort, to overcome yourself despite the fatigue, despite the chain, despite the circumstances with this virus.
Lionel Messi, “the legend”
Hugo Loris: “Argentina is a very well organized team, very strong in the defensive phase, aggressive in goal, which exploits the opponent’s mistakes very well. There have always been great players in this team, there was Maradona and now Messi, what does he do part of the legend of our sport. There will be a lot of anticipation for this final. When you’re French, it’s a big event whatever the opponent. But meeting Argentina makes things even better. more beautiful. Let’s hope this match remains in the annals of the French team. We know what Lionel Messi represents in the history of our sport, but it will be a match between the French team and the Argentina national team, which has great players, real competitors.”
“The whole world against the Blues?”
Didier Deschamps: “I know very well that this Argentine team has a very strong popular support. I expect a festive atmosphere, the Argentine people are passionate people. But our opponents will be on the pitch, not in the stands.”
Hugo Loris: “As long as we have the support of our fans, that the country is behind us, the rest doesn’t matter. We started this competition with a mission. Very few people believed us at the beginning of this adventure. and we find ourselves in the final four years after. We will give everything to emerge victorious from this final battle”.
“Kylian Needs Peace”
Didier Deschamps (on Mbappé’s rarity in front of the press) : “Kylian needs tranquillity, serenity. He is concentrated on the pitch and on what he has to do, he was in an excellent state of mind before the World Cup and still now, from day one, with the group. . I don’t want to disturb his peace”.
“Benzema? I don’t do the invitations”
Didier Deschamps (on the possible presence of Karim Benzema in the final) : “If I don’t answer, you’ll say I’m pissed. I’ve had injured players before, Karim is one of them. The last one to get injured was Lucas Hernandez. Since then, I have 24 players to manage, asking the question against these players is a clumsy to say the least, if not a little more, I don’t deal with invitations from former players, injured, someone will be there or not, I don’t know. They were part of the beginning of the adventure but then there was a group of 24 players and he’s in the final.”
