Deschamps 'unconcerned' as France struggle without Mbappe

All nan cameras were connected Kylian Mbappe arsenic he took his spot connected nan chair for France's Euro 2024 crippled against nan Netherlands and, pinch specified attention, it was difficult for him to hide his emotions arsenic his broadside missed galore chances.

The 25-year-old striker, who collapsed his chemoreceptor successful France's opener, occasionally looked frustrated, astatine 1 shape had his caput successful his hands and besides stood to outcry retired encouragement to his team-mates.

But he was not wherever he wanted to beryllium - connected nan transportation - and Les Bleus severely missed him in their goalless draw.

"I americium not concerned," France leader Didier Deschamps said astir his side's nonaccomplishment to people successful Mbappe's absence.

"It is conscionable nan sanction of nan game. Sometimes you person countless chances and don't deed nan backmost of nan nett and sometimes it is nan different measurement round.

"I would beryllium worried if location were not immoderate chances. Efficiency astatine high-level shot is important and it is thing we tin activity on."

France are a broadside filled pinch talent successful each areas of nan pitch, but nan statistic of really they fare without Mbappe will beryllium concerning.

They person now grounded to triumph immoderate of nan past 7 games without nan striker successful nan starting line-up successful nan past 2 years - drafting 5 and losing nan different two.

While France are each but done to nan knockout shape - they request only a tie successful their last Group D crippled against Poland to guarantee a last-16 spot - they person played 2 matches astatine this tourney and scored conscionable 1 goal.

Netherlands leader Ronald Koeman whitethorn not admit it, but he must person been relieved to spot Mbappe connected nan bench.

France had won some meetings erstwhile these sides met successful qualifying, pinch Mbappe scoring 4 of his team's six goals successful those games.

"It is ever different," Koeman said of what it is for illustration to look France without Mbappe.

"It is different for america and different for nan France nationalist team, we are talking astir 1 of nan champion players successful Europe and possibly nan world, truthful of people that is different."

Deschamps, though, feels location is simply a bigger image to consider, and believes some Mbappe and France will use from him not being risked conscionable 4 days aft his surgery nose.

He took portion successful training connected Thursday wearing a mask, and Deschamps had suggested "everything was moving successful nan correct direction" for Mbappe to beryllium available.

But aft nan lucifer nan head said: "If it had been a decisive crippled I whitethorn person thought doubly astir him playing aliases not.

"But it is important for maine to deliberation astir really he is feeling, he has a bruise, he has to deterioration a disguise and that whitethorn alteration his imagination too.

"There is besides nan consequence we would beryllium taking and pinch each time passing we are getting to nan constituent wherever he is amended arsenic well.

"I felt nan wiser determination was to support him connected nan bench."

With Mbappe out, this was nan chance for Antoine Griezmann to measurement up.

In Thursday's pre-match news conference, he lamented his capacity successful nan opening crippled against Austria - intelligibly emotion he should person been much involved.

Griezmann was conscionable that against nan Netherlands, but not successful nan measurement he would for illustration to remember.

Most of France's champion chances fell to nan Atletico Madrid striker. In nan first half, he missed from adjacent range, albeit nan shot from Adrien Rabiot was not nan best, earlier sending a decent opportunity wide soon after.

In nan 2nd half, he was picked retired by nan awesome N'Golo Kante and looked definite to score, but a mediocre first touch proved costly arsenic his prodded effort was saved.

But contempt nan concerning finishing, Deschamps feels Griezmann has plentifulness to connection nan team.

"Antoine doesn't person a fixed position," he added. "The much touches of nan shot he has nan amended he is.

"He is personification who is generous pinch his shot and sometimes his generosity intends he doesn't person a clear caput arsenic he should have.

"There are nary fixed positions for him, he tin play higher erstwhile we request him higher up nan pitch."

While location whitethorn beryllium attacking concerns for France nan large affirmative for them truthful acold person been nan performances of Kante.

The erstwhile Chelsea subordinate made a astonishment return to world shot aft a two-year absence erstwhile he was called up to Deschamps' squad, and he has been nan standout subordinate successful France's 2 games truthful far.

"N'Golo is still retired location moving I think," joked Deschamps, 1 hr aft nan crippled against nan Netherlands had finished.

"But it is not each he does, He is capable to really task america up nan section [and it] is important pinch nan remainder of our midfield we person that assortment and we are not that predictable for our opponent."

Kante is intelligibly enjoying being backmost successful nan world fold.

"It is ever important erstwhile you travel backmost to play for your nationalist team, particularly successful a title arsenic important arsenic nan Euros," he said.

"I wanted to springiness my each successful these games."

Two fixtures down and location person been positives and negatives for France.

But pinch their spot successful nan knockouts each but assured, location is still plentifulness of clip for them, and Mbappe, to get up to afloat speed.