Monday marks a ritzy showdown in Dusseldorf with France squaring off against Belgium in the round of 16.
Didier Deschamps has called on his squad to sharpen up their finishing, warning there’s no room for error as Euro 2024 enters the knockout phase.
Despite their status as tournament darlings, the French team barely made a splash, landing behind Austria in Group D as unexpected silver finishers.
Their campaign kicked off with a win, courtesy of an own goal against Ralf Rangnick’s team, but subsequent matches against the Netherlands and Poland ended in draws.
Deschamps acknowledged the group’s tepid performances yet promised a robust display against Belgium in the upcoming match.
“I’m marshalling our forces to confront and challenge our rivals while ensuring our defense remains impenetrable,” he stated.
“The real battle begins now. It’s like a whole new contest,” he added.
“The squads still standing are the crème de la crème. It boils down to being lethal in the box,” Deschamps emphasized.
“To clinch victory, striking the net is imperative, something we’ve faltered at—a plight even the top strikers face.”
France bowed out of Euro 2020 at this juncture, succumbing to Switzerland in shootouts after relinquishing a two-goal advantage.
Determined not to let history repeat itself, Deschamps reassured fans of their integral role in the lead-up to the clash.
“Anticipating shootouts is part of our prep. We have the lowdown on our opponents as well as our players,” he noted.
“Reviewing our last shootout, seven participants altered. Although the lineup shifts, preventing penalties remains my aim,” Deschamps concluded.
