Didier Deschamps has explained why he subbed off Kylian Mbappe during France’s tense Euro 2024 quarter-final win over Portugal.
France booked their place in the semi-finals in Germany with a penalty shootout victory over Portugal in Hamburg.
Both teams created chances but penalties were required to separate the sides after 120 minutes of goalless action.
France captain Mbappe was replaced by Bradley Barcola at half time in extra-time and the move shocked the BBC pundits analysing the game.
Ex-England midfielder Jermaine Jenas said: ‘This is massive, don’t you think? 15 minutes to go and your main penalty taker is taken off.’
Former Three Lions defender Rio Ferdinand then said: ‘It must be a medical thing. He hasn’t looked himself. He must have said he’s not feeling right. I would’ve convinced him to stay on.’
Explaining why Mbappe made way shortly before penalties, Deschamps said: ‘Kylian, he was tired. Physically, it was not an easy match.
‘I saw him struggling in extra-time, it was no use even if he would have been a penalty taker.
‘He’s always been honest with me and the group. It seemed normal to me to bring in some freshness.’
France scored all five of their spot-kicks, with Portugal’s Joao Felix the only player on either team to miss.
On the match as a whole, Deschamps added: ‘It was a very tense and tight. It could have gone either way, even if we had a more laborious end to the match in extra time with less of the ball.
‘There was fatigue, too. It’s decided on small details but I’m happy for the group. They pushed themselves to the limit and swung it to the right side for us.’
Portugal boss Roberto Martinez, meanwhile, said he was ‘proud’ of his team and believes they ‘deserved’ to go through.
‘We played well and created many opportunities,’ he said. ‘I am proud of the players, they showed great character.
‘We had more of the ball and demonstrated lots of personality. We deserved to win and it’s a sad moment, but the players should be extremely proud of themselves.’
Portugal star Bernardo Silva added: ‘Just as it was cruel for Slovenia in [our] round of 16 [win on penalties], today was cruel for us. We move on; it’s a lesson and we’ll try to improve. We have to learn from it.
‘The group remains cohesive, we have worked hard. We have managed to maintain a dressing room with a very good spirit. That is unique, and it is in these moments that you see great teams. We will try to maintain this cohesion.’
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