The head coach of the French national team, Didier Deschamps, spoke with journalists ahead of the 2026 World Cup qualifying match against Ukraine.
Didier DeschampsOn Cherki’s role:
«Rayan has the technical abilities to change the situation, whether through passes or goals. He has freedom, but it all depends on the zone he is in. He can come onto the field and change the situation, which is good; we haven’t always had that. He is coming back after an injury, changing environments, teammates... But he is capable of being decisive from the start of the match, even though it’s easier to come on as a substitute when the opponents are tired. Rayan has the ability to start matches and be decisive.»
On the importance of tomorrow’s match:
«We have taken 10 points, we could have taken 12. We recognize the importance of tomorrow’s match — a victory will secure our place in the 2026 World Cup. We must not lose our composure. Many players are still absent. This prevents us from training and developing more automatic playing actions.
What is behind me doesn’t interest me; the most important thing is tomorrow. Accumulating consecutive qualifications is very good. Our duty as the French national team is to qualify for the biggest competitions.
It is never the same, and I like that. You need to appreciate every moment, the preparation for crucial matches like this one. It’s important to appreciate things. I’ve never really looked back. The story that needs to be written will be tomorrow.»
On the situation with Barcola and Camavinga:
«Everything is going well for Barcola. In the early part of the year, things were going very well for him with us, but he played less for his club. Now he has played many matches, which creates physical demands. He feels good. He is an important player, but match accumulation leads to fatigue for all players. Bradley feels good, no specific problems.
Camavinga has injuries that prevent him from playing consistently. He also expects more from himself. He has completed a six-month recovery. The current situation is that Camavinga played more in one week than in the last six months.»
On Kanté:
«Kanté is playing well, he is always smiling. He maintains his level, having played most of the matches this season. He is still in top form. He has the experience and knowledge for this type of match.»
