Deschamps blames France for Euro 2020 failure after surrender to Switzerland

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The 2018 World Cup winners lost a two-goal lead at the end of the round of 16 before finally coming off the ground in a penalty shootout.

Didier Deschamps is ready to take responsibility for France’s failures at Euro 2020, with the reigning world champions suffering a shocking knockout loss to Switzerland in a game they dominated.

The Blues, who were looking to add a continental crown to the one they secured in 2018, appeared to advance to the quarter-finals as they held a 3-1 lead over the Swiss with nine minutes to go.

However, they suffered a late collapse, with an unusual surrender ended when Kylian Mbappe inflated his lines on the spot and a loss on penalties was confirmed.

Editors’ Choice What was said?

Speaking for the first time since seeing his team withdraw from a major international tournament that many expected them to win, Deschamps told L’Equipe: “The hardest thing to do digesting – and I’m only doing it now – is knowing what we are, able to do and seeing what we have done.

“And, I repeat, having a 3-1 lead in the 80th minute against Switzerland and seeing what happened after …

“Strength has always been our DNA. At 3-3, there is necessarily a certain nervousness but anything is possible.

“There is the possibility of [Kingsley] Coman and the ball hitting the bar. We have to be realistic. At 3-1, not one person in the stadium, or elsewhere, will have said that we were not going to qualify.

“I don’t want to look for excuses. I know I’m the one responsible. When everything is fine, all is not rosy, and when things are bad, not all is bad either.

“Our elimination is linked to many things. It’s my responsibility. The initial tactical choice didn’t work. Making three changes isn’t a mistake, it’s a choice. I know what brought me about. That much.”

Should Benzema have stayed?

Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema, who was brought back from the international desert for Euro 2020, helped put France under control against Switzerland with two well-scored goals.

However, he was replaced by Olivier Giroud in overtime and was not on the field to shoot a penalty in the shootout.

Asked if he has any regrets there, Deschamps added: “Karim had nothing to do with it. Everything he had to do, he did very well.

“I had to change teams for different reasons. I know this is not an ideal scenario. But we were leading 3-1 in the 80th minute and what had been our strength at the time, was lacking. .

“I could have done it differently, yes. But we were leading 3-1 in the 80th minute. Neither he nor I can go back.”

Further reading

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