Football NewsDidier Deschamps, France boss, has backed Antoine Griezmann
Post image

The Barcelona forward looked off-color during that fixture, which was capped by a terrible, dreadful penalty that floated over the bar.

Deschamps backs Antoine Griezmann

France boss Didier Deschamps has backed Antoine Griezmann to bounce back from a disappointing performance in Saturday’s 1-0 win over Sweden. The Barcelona forward looked off-color during that fixture, which was capped by a terrible, dreadful penalty that floated over the bar. In this case, it didn’t matter, as Kylian Mbappe’s solo kick was enough to give the world champions a win in their Nations League opener. Still, it raised the alarm over the forward Atletico Madrid man struggling to find his best form with Barcelona last season. Deschamps, however, supported the 29-year-old to rediscover his best way. “I have no doubts about Antoine,” the manager said. “He knows he hasn’t played his best game, but he can play again on Tuesday. I remember his first game was far from his best in November, but he had a perfect second game.”

When France win, they take it with a smile

“I will decide what I think is best for the team and him.” Captain Hugo Lloris also supported the forward. “When France win, we take it with a smile,” Hugo said when asked to respond to statistics that the World Cup winner missed his last three penalties. “Maybe he has no confidence in this part of the game. But he took the last big penalties, he put them in the net”. Meanwhile, Deschamps confirmed that PSG stars Mbappe and Presnel Kimpembe are both available, despite that their club side intended to play the Ligue 1 match away in Lens on Thursday – just 48 hours after the international game.

“Kimpembe and Mbappe can play tomorrow. They know it, I know it, we have to play,” the coach confirmed. “All 23 players are available, Kim and Kylian too. I’m not in the place that the clubs are. We have an international match, and we will do everything to win it, even if I consider different analysis things”. It will be the country’s first meeting since France beat Croatia 4-2 in the World Cup final just over two years ago in Russia.