France's coach Didier Deschamps has calmed concerns over his side's performance after a disappointing 2-0 loss to Denmark in the UEFA Nations League at Copenhagen on Sunday night.
With just under two months left for the Qatar World Cup 2022, fans of the France football team have been left worried following their side's dismal show in recent times. On Sunday, Didier Deschamps' men put up a disappointing performance in their 2-0 shock defeat to Denmark in the UEFA Nations League at Copenhagen, sparking massive outrage across social media platforms.
A six-minute first-half salvo from Denmark's Kasper Dolberg and Andreas Skov Olsen sunk the French team, as their poor form continues with just one win in six since March.ย
๐ฉ๐ฐ๐๐ซ๐ท
Denmark wow! pic.twitter.com/Vus1VlF4OY
France suffer defeat but avoid relegation. pic.twitter.com/OML607lFSp
โ UEFA Nations League (@EURO2024)However, France's coach Didier Deschamps calmed concerns following the defeat to reduce the panic and also suggested that the result did not represent the capability of his side. The French manager claimed the loss resulted from his decision to field an inexperienced side rather than any tactical issues.
"'I don't think it's a shipwreck, we also had a lot of chances but we were ineffective, we made some errors when playing out from the back. It's a young French side, where for the majority of the players don't have experience at the very highest level," Deschamps said in his post-match interview.
"It's not a question of formations, but when you have four corners, and a Danish player is left alone each time, you can play with three, five or twelve at the back. It doesn't change a thing," he added.
"There's no need to worry. Having the players with international experience back will do us good. There's no worrying; it's difficult for everyone. Last night I was watching other games, there are other big teams that are losing as well. We shouldn't think of ourselves as better than others. We're going to have to fight," the France coach added.
Several star players of France like Karim Benzema, Hugo Lloris, Paul Pogba missed the UEFA Nations League owing to injuries. Deschamps decided to bench Raphael Varane and Ousmane Dembele for Sunday's clash to give his less-experienced players more game time.
Despite having a World Cup-winning front three in Olivier Giroud, Kylian Mbappe, and Antoine Griezmann, France struggled to score any of their seven shots on goal during the encounter.ย
Also read:ย UEFA Nations League: France's Olivier Giroud cherishes historic goal against Austria
Deschamps will, though, take satisfaction from the fact that, as he pointed out, France is not the only team to experience difficulties before the World Cup.
Hungary upset Germany at home on Friday, and England hasn't scored an open-play goal since beating Ivory Coast in a friendly in March. As several pre-tournament favourites stumble in their final preparations, Spain has only won twice in six matches.
Meanwhile, fans of the defending World Cup champions took to Twitter to express their disappointment over the French team's performance, with some even stating that the 'curse has begun'.
Here's a look at some of the reactions:
the curse has begun https://t.co/kmowckaxuh
โ Alan (@montoyalan96)they not making it out the groups im afraid https://t.co/krX7gcgrOx
โ julian (@wooolian)๐ซ๐ท WC โฝ๏ธ
1982 - Fourth๐ซค
1986 - Bronze ๐ฅ
1990 - Fail to qualify โ
1994 - Fail to qualify โ
1998 - Champions ๐ ๐ฅ
2002 - Group stage๐ซ
2006 - Silver ๐ฅ
2010 - Group stage ๐ซ
2014 - Quater final๐
2018 - Champions ๐ ๐ฅ
2022 - ??? https://t.co/8mvfGui77H pic.twitter.com/aLolMUIhEi
World Cup curse incoming https://t.co/kcTbvLVIKq
โ Isma (@pierre_ismail)Sack that weirdo Didier Deschamps. https://t.co/iiMUK3KJKs
โ G (@GumedeSiphelele)They might finish last in their World Cup group. The curseโฆ https://t.co/d4gkciyk7m
โ ๐ป๐๐๐๐ (@Praizzzz_)World Cup Curse โ ๏ธ coming back? https://t.co/tWCNHXYzzJ
โ Kicking Balls FC (@kickingballsfc)France on the way to keep the 'Defending Champions Curse' alive in Qatar ๐คจ pic.twitter.com/k0oty40Ii8
โ Tom and Jerry Sportsposting (@sportsposting)Seriously only international football causals think France a an win the WC. I get RMCF fans think so because they've got 5 class French players but as a team they're terrible, their 3 defenders line is awful, they seem lost. I can see the World Cup curse prevailing again
โ Wรฉder #DePaul ACL ๐ต๐นโ๏ธ๐ฆ (@edersznpxced)No way France are avoiding the World Cup curse
โ Koulibalyโs house boy (@iamyourspec)***NOT IN ORDER***
1.Brazil
2.Argentina
3.Portugal
4.England
5.Belgium
6.Netherlands
7.France (Despite the world cup curse you need to include the previous champions as favorites.) https://t.co/3RLdz0Clkl
France might be giving us a feeling of the worldcup group stages curse ๐ฅน. ๐ณThey are next.
โ ๐ฟBroken Heart ๐ (@broken_heart490)France smell and therefore, World Cup Curse continues? Allez! pic.twitter.com/t7kS6I59vZ
โ Ahmad (@ffsAhmad)France football team showing the signs of the "Defending Champions Curse" even before heading into the World Cup. pic.twitter.com/L0L11epnvH
โ Mukuldev Singh Shekhawat (@MukulShekhawat5)World Cup winner's curse is starting to hit France pic.twitter.com/sLD2017oJd
โ ๐จ๐ณ๐ท๐บ๐ฐ๐ท (@TerminateTuchel)the world cup curse continues with france
โ ns. (@notshalom_)the World Cup winner's curse already began for France๐
It ain't looking good pic.twitter.com/9VBBABEapW
france DEFINITELY will have the World Cup curse 5.0 https://t.co/EYbss7CKXQ
โ ๐ธ๐ทclowny๐ธ๐ท (@CrazyClownytr)Btw World Cup champions curse is real. Just look at France
โ Pa1's โ๏ธ (@pa1forthe1)THE CURSE THAT FOLLOWS YOU AFTER WINNING THE WORLD CUP IS ALWAYS UNBELIEVABLE Germany and France know๐๐
โ Gazi๐คทโโ๏ธ (@Oyange_ke)If you still think France aren't continuing the champions curse in the world cup you're delusional, they're so shit
โ Ivan ๐ธ๐ฎ (@FCB_Ivan1)Do you people not remember the world cup curse that has been going on for years? Italy, Spain, Germany went through it now its happening to France
โ A.N.D.Z๐จ๐ด๐ณ๐ฌ (@Andzinho6_)