French football team: Didier Deschamps talks about the return of Olivier Giroud to the selection

Q: Why did you recall Olivier Giroud after Karim Benzema’s withdrawal?

A: « The most important thing for me is to be consistent and fair in relation to the discourse I can have with the player. This is the case, in this case. Olivier was part of this very successful team. She l « was without him too. He remains selectable. Obviously, his presence is linked to Karim’s injury. When a player has a status, and has earned this status, it’s very difficult to live with, if not impossible, to come back and have another status by being there. It’s human: when you’re used to having 100, it’s very complicated to have 20, 30, and even 50. It’s not specific to Olivier , but humanly, it’s very complicated. Having less (playing time), psychologically, it has consequences on himself and the group. A player with this status needs to have an important role to play, j « I’m convinced. (Giroud) had this status for many years. The question is not the relationship, it’s not Karim, Kylian (Mbappé) or whoever it is, it’s more law n that. It’s in relation to the use, to his playing time. Everything is possible, but I consider that humanly, for a player accustomed to a status, it will be very difficult to have less.

Q: How do you feel about Jonathan Clauss’ joy at the announcement of his summons?

A: « I saw his joy, his pride, that of all the people who are close to him and that of his supporters. There are a lot of emotions but I’m not here to give gifts. You don’t have to don’t forget that he’s there because he deserves it. The story is good because it’s not a usual route, he arrived late at the very top level. But it’s not Jonathan’s party, it’s not is not his jubilee, he must not consider it as an end even if it was not necessarily programmed. He must consider it as a step. He will have playing time too. It is not easy to ignore the emotional side, but the only truth is that of the pitch. That’s what brought him here, that’s the only reason he’s here. »

Q: Why did you choose William Saliba to replace Benjamin Pavard?

A: « We have been following him for a while, he is with the Espoirs. He knows this role well, in a similar system (with Marseille). He is a good defender in the duel, he is fast, he has a good game head, he exudes a lot of serenity, even if these players sometimes have small excesses in the recovery. He is one of these young players, there are others. Obviously, the France A team has priority, but in this position among the four, five players available to the Espoirs, they can all be holders there. »