DIDIER DESCHAMPS GAVE a measured and composed half-time team talk to the French players in their World Cup final victory over Croatia.
Video footage has emerged of his speech, and despite leading 2-1 at the break with a glorious victory on the horizon, Deschamps was in relaxed form as he delivered his second-half instructions to the team.
“Did you see? They’re using their elbows, their bodies. The guy facing away he’s facing away, he’s facing away! Facing away from goal he’s not gonna hurt us,” he begins.
“Don’t bother getting in front, we’re controlling him.”
He went on to caution them about Croatia’s danger man Mario Mandzukic, who conceded an own-goal in the opening half before finding the net for his side in the second-half following a dreadful mistake from the France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.
Didier Deschamps half time team talk during World Cup Final with English subtitles: https://t.co/dIKdKl8o9s
— Adrian Moorhead (@adeymoorhead) July 18, 2018
“He can still win the ball with his head just be careful around him,” Deschamps adds.
“Not to be static, to already be on the move. Close him down, think about it.
“Don’t make it harder for yourself. They come, they’re aggressive. You’ve all seen the energy they’re giving.
“Play as simple as possible. When you have the ball, if someone is on you, there’s another one coming. Give it as soon as you can, give it to Kylian [Mbappe].”
Before releasing his charges back out for the second period where they would go on to complete a 4-2 victory, Deschamps injects more passion into his voice to issue one final rallying cry to inspire France to victory.
45 minutes! You know what’s next. Keep your heads up! Loosen up! When you get the ball, boom, give it forward.
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