FANS are stunned by France manager Didier Deschamps’s “ruthless” half-time team talk despite his players being 7-0 up.
Les Bleus went on to set a new record margin of victory in European qualifying and a national record in a demolition of Gibraltar who lost 14-0 in Nice.
EPADidier Deschamps stunned fans with his half-time team-talk[/caption]
France footballDeschamps urged his players to go and “smash” the nation’s victory record as they were 7-0 up[/caption]
Ethan Santos’ own goal, Marcus Thuram and 17-year-old Warren Zaire-Emery on his international debut had already put France in command.
But Santos’ red card on 18 minutes allowed Didier Deschamps‘ men to run amok.
By half-time Kylian Mbappe‘s penalty and Jonathan Clauss, Kingsley Coman and Youssouf Fofana‘s goals made the game 7-0.
Despite their lead, Deschamps did not hold back in his half-time speech and told his players to go and “smash the record” – which was 10-0.
He said: “Full marks boys for that first half. Let’s have more of the same in the second half.
“Keep things as simple as possible and whenever we can, we score.
“It’s 7-0 but there are no limits. I want the same determination from everybody.
“The record is 10-0, out of interest. You could smash it. Don’t hold back boys.”
FREE BETS – BEST BETTING OFFERS AND BONUSES NEW CUSTOMERS
Fans were amazed by the Frenchman’s winning mentality in the dressing room as the team went on to double their lead in the second half.
One fan said simply: “Ruthless.”
Another added: “Elite mentality .”
A third fan put: “Wicked man .”
Deschamps has won the World Cup as both a player and manager and the record his team broke was the 10-0 triumph against Azerbaijan in 1995 – a game he played in.
The Euro 2024 qualifier against Gibraltar saw nearly every one of his team get in on the action with France boasting nine different goalscorers.
Mbappe who scored a hat-trick took his record to 42 goals in 72 games for France with his third hat-trick for his country.
The 24-year-old now has 21 goals in just 18 appearances for club and country this season.
ReutersFILE PHOTO: Soccer Football – Euro 2024 Qualifier – Group B – France v Gibraltar – Allianz Riviera, Nice, France – November 18, 2023 France’s Kylian Mbappe celebrates scoring their twelfth goal REUTERS/Claudia Greco/File Photo[/caption]