(MENAFN- Gulf Times) France coach Didier Deschamps said his team will be going all out to win their final World Cup group game against Denmark today as they look to wrap up first place. Deschamps is expected to make several changes for the encounter in Moscow with France guaranteed a spot in the last 16 following wins over Australia and Peru.
Denmark require just a point to join France in the knockout stages, and could even pip Les Bleus to top spot in Group C with a victory. 'We are not going to give them a helping hand. Our goal is to guarantee first place and two results will allow that, Deschamps told reporters at the Luzhniki Stadium yesterday.
'I would never say to my team that we're playing for a draw. I want my team to go out onto the pitch without any ambiguity and to do everything to win this match. I'm sure Denmark will also be playing to win.
Deschamps admitted he could rest players in danger of suspension, with midfield trio Paul Pogba, Blaise Matuidi and Corentin Tolisso all a booking away from missing the next match. 'If I can preserve them, it's now, Deschamps said. 'I won't be able to that after that.
Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane looks likely to captain the side, with Steve Mandanda expected to start in goal ahead of regular skipper Hugo Lloris. 'I have 23 players, they can all have a role to play and start a match, Deschamps added. 'There are no risks, if they're here it's because they're ready to play.
Denmark coach Age Hareide made some unflattering remarks about France in the build-up to the tournament, calling them 'nothing special.
'Everyone is free to say what they want and accept responsibility. It wasn't a very nice thing, said Deschamps. 'The players read and listen more than me. They know very well what the coach said. 'That's not what's going to fire up the players that are going to start tomorrow.
Title contenders France have yet to hit top gear in Russia, churning out a 2-1 victory over Australia before scraping past Peru 1-0. Varane believes there is much more to come from the team, particularly going forward.
'I think we have progressed compared to the beginning of the competition, Varane said. 'We have improved which is great and we need to carry on. In attack I think we can still progress, we can still hurt the opponent more, he added. 'We saw it in different phases during our last game but we can do better. We have the quality to tear defences apart.
France criticism ‘taken out of context', says Danish coach
Denmark coach Age Hareide said his critical remarks of World Cup hopefuls France were 'taken out of context ahead of today's World Cup clash with the Group C leaders. Hareide gave a withering assessment of France in the run-up to the tournament, claiming they were 'nothing special and that they lacked a 'leader such as Zinedine Zidane.
'First of all these were things taken out of context, Hareide said in Moscow yesterday. 'If you'd read the whole article you would have seen I was comparing with the '98 team. You can pick anything from an article you like, but I was just comparing with the best version of France we have ever seen.
Denmark face France needing a point from their final game to be sure of a place in the last 16, as they bid to reach the knockout rounds of a World Cup for the first time since 2002. Norwegian Hareide said the Danes would go in search of victory, resisting the dangerous temptation to look to settle for a draw.
'I know one point will be enough but that's not a good way to start the match, he said. 'If you put that into your players' heads there will be passiveness in the team and that's not good. It will be a tough match tomorrow, Hareide added.
'The players worked very hard in the first two matches. We haven't done our best in terms of play but we've worked very hard for the points. We can't ask for more.
Hareide singled out Paul Pogba for his flashy haircuts as part of last month's criticism of France, but the 64-year-old was far more complimentary yesterday. 'France have a team with so many good individual players, said Hareide. 'With Pogba you know what he delivers as a player, you can't really compare with anything in Europe. And you have (Antoine) Griezmann up front, those are two pre-eminent players.
Denmark would qualify regardless of how they fare against France if Australia fail to beat Peru in the other group match in Sochi. Hareide admitted he and his coaching staff would be keeping an eye on proceedings in the Black Sea resort.
'We do have communication with our guy who is there and my assistant Jon Dahl (Tomasson) will receive the information, Hareide said. 'We will know how that's going on an ongoing basis. I'm not sure I'll tell the players though.
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