France Coach Deschamps Vows to Maintain Attacking Approach Against Sweden

Didier Deschamps has warned France’s rivals that the team will not change their attacking approach to this World Cup, saying as he prepared for the last-32 tie against Sweden on Tuesday: “We have a capacity for danger, and I want us to keep it.” The France head coach said it was “good to be busy” as he returned to the camp after time at home following the death of his mother last week. Deschamps expressed gratitude for the support he had received from his team after his bereavement, in another sign of the tight bond among Les Bleus this summer. “We’ve been labelled as favourites before and, after what we did in the last three matches, that hasn’t gone away,” Deschamps said. “But it’s back to square one now. We’re preparing for a competition within the competition. We have to face a team who have nothing to lose and can give us some problems. We are confident, not overconfident, but in terms of intentions we will look to continue what we managed in the group. “We scored 10 goals in the group stage and we could have scored more. We did concede too many goalscoring opportunities too and I imagine some will wonder: can we manage like this? But we did so four years ago and other teams are doing the same. When we have the ball we don’t have a problem, when we don’t have possession we’re going to have to be efficient. But we have a capacity to generate danger, which is a strength, and I want us to keep it.” Deschamps rejoined his squad on Friday after travelling to France on compassionate leave. In his absence a request by the team to wear black armbands during the match against Norway was rejected by Fifa. Deschamps said the decision “didn’t change a lot for me, to be honest”, but explained he was touched by the messages he had received from his players. “I didn’t need it,” he said of the armband. “With what the players and staff members did and all the messages I received, I didn’t need a sign, I already had enough.” Adrien Rabiot, one of Deschamps’ most trusted lieutenants, said the coach had been very much in the thoughts of France’s players over the past week. “When he announced the passing of his mother … it was a shock,” Rabiot said. “I don’t think it’s so easy to have to grieve in these conditions, but this is football, we have the World Cup and it’s the way it is. He came back with willpower to go as far as possible. We are united, we know what he’s going through, and we will try to give him something to rejoice over, it’s the least we can do.” Of France’s opponents, Deschamps was complimentary about a “solid” Sweden side with world-class forwards. “They are very physical with good capabilities and in the attacking line there is a lot of quality,” he said. “They have two good players in the midfield, there are set pieces and long throw-ins. They’re a solid team, then look at the three attackers. They are very good players and play in big clubs.” France have few injury concerns as they prepare for a quickening of the schedule, with this their second game in five days. The striker Marcus Thuram will not be fit for the game with a “little muscular issue”, while N’Golo Kanté looks set to be fit for the bench. William Saliba continues to be managed with a back injury, but Deschamps said he had no doubts over his key defender. “Everything is organised so that he only has to do what he should,” he said. “He’s not at 100% but if he’s at 99%, all is good.” Graham Potter, meanwhile, claimed his Sweden team would have to “play the game of our lives” if they were to have a chance of defeating France. “They’ve got quality all over, from the start or off the bench,” the Swedish head coach said. “We have full respect for the opponent, for the quality of the individuals that are on the team, what they’ve achieved, the fact they have a fantastic manager. So we know the exciting challenge that awaits us. We have to play the game of our lives, clearly, but the boys are in a really good place.” Potter repeatedly emphasised the positive in looking forward to the match and rejected any claim that the team had something to prove, although they will be without the defender Alexander Hien, who has a hamstring strain. “If we’re honest, where we are now compared to where we were, it’s a huge opportunity,” the 51-year-old said. “This team has already given me some amazing memories that I will always be grateful for. Our biggest strength is our togetherness and we’re just fighting every day to keep improving. We’re playing one of the biggest teams in the world and for me the feeling is just one of excitement.”