France national team manager Didier Deschamps was very unhappy with one particular PSG first-team player, and let his feelings be known when carrying out his media duties
On Sunday evening, the French national team showed why they are amongst the World Cup favourites with a convincing 3-1 victory over Colombia, using a second-string side that included several PSG players.
The three players from Luis Enrique's side to start the game included defender Lucas Hernandez, who put in an assured performance whilst starting as the left-sided central defender in a back four.
After the game, the 30-year-old told L'Equipe via GFFN that France has the best attack in the world, a statement that few people in the footballing consciousness would disagree with.
However, it was not a comment that went down well with manager Didier Deschamps. During his media duties after the game, he was critical of the defender's comments, when an interview informed him of the statement made by Hernandez: "Lucas said that? I will talk to him right after (this interview).
I have ambition, and I want the players to have it too, but I don't want us to lose our humility. We will need everything to be stronger than the others. I won't hide and say that we aren't one of the teams that can be world champions, but there are between eight and ten teams that can say that.
It's not by shouting 'we're the best, we're the strongest' from the rooftops - by experience, it isn't (that) when a French sportsman is feeling comfortable that they are better.
Some interesting comments from Deschamps, and it is important that he stresses humility to his players. We've seen what can happen in football when a team is overconfident.
Nevertheless, Hernandez's comments did not seem particularly strong. They actually felt quite generic. A player is hardly going to say, "Well, our attack is up there, but team X probably has better wingers, or team Y has a better centre forward," etc. They are always going to back their own.
In any case, it was good to see him get 90 minutes under his belt. Some players you prefer to rest during the international break, but it is clear that Hernandez is one of those players who could do with game time, considering he has played fewer than 1600 minutes at club level so far this season.
The team will need all the help they can get in the run-in, and that is not just from the first XI. Football is a squad game, and the depth will certainly be needed at times.
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