“It’s not being disrespectful at all, but I’ve hardly mentioned the word ‘France’, and I’ve hardly mentioned any of the players names because the players know who they are,” he said.
Nevertheless, he thought his youthful midfield, several of whom he coached at the Tokyo Olympics, would be up to the challenge of taking on players of proven international class. The Socceroos players criticized Qatar’s record on human rights and same-sex relationships in a video released last month.Nothing is going to disrupt France in their opening World Cup game against Australia – not Karim Benzema’s absence, and especially not the ‘One Love’ armband row in Qatar, captain Hugo Lloris said on Monday .
“We still believe in our chances, in our squad. The last-minute withdrawals, especially Karim’s, did not help,” Lloris told a news conference.Asked whether new leaders are emerging with the absence of key players like Pogba and Benzema, coach Didier Deschamps said many are naturals at encouraging the group, but leadership “doesn’t happen from one day to the next.”
The defending champions have exited the World Cup at the end of the group phase in four of the last five editions.