Sport24.az
After the Azerbaijan-France match (1:3) in the qualifying round of DÇ-2026, the head coach of the guest team, Didier Deschamps, answered journalists' questions. Sport24.az reports that the expert said the following at the meeting with media representatives…
– Did the players meet your expectations?
– We did our job and won. The Azerbaijan national team played aggressively. We won by two goals. We are ready for the next games as well.
– What do you think about Akliuş's game?
– There is progress. It will be even better. We have great expectations from him.
– What are your thoughts on Ekitike and Mateta?
– They played, they tried to score goals. Mateta scored his second goal for the national team. It will be better for him in the future.
– If they had said before the game that Azerbaijan would score in the first 5 minutes, what would you have thought?
– I never think like that. It was also surprising for us. Football is 90 minutes. At the beginning of the game, we faced an aggressive team. But then we changed the situation. Azerbaijan played three days ago and it was difficult for them today as well.
– Can Keffren Thuram score like his father?
– He is young and talented. If he had scored, his statistics and self-confidence would have increased.
– 30 years ago, we played against Azerbaijan as a football player. What aspects would you touch on in your comparison?
– 30 years have passed. I don't remember exactly. I treat all teams with respect. Today's teams work very hard on themselves. For example, "Qarabağ" can almost score points in the Champions League. There is also progress in the Azerbaijan national team.
– What are your thoughts on Baku and Azerbaijan?
– We had a great time in Baku. The stadium was full. The fans created a wonderful atmosphere.
– Two of your goals were disallowed. You protested in both. Was this to the referee or to your players?
– I do not oppose the decisions of VAR. There was a handball in our first goal. It could be discussed. In the second goal, a handball was visible. I wasn't angry. It was the first time that so many of our goals were disallowed in one game. These are the rules of the game and I accept them.
