Deschamps wary of potential play-off opponents
© AFP
Monday 14 October 2013
Share
France coach Didier Deschamps expressed his concerns at facing either Sweden or Portugal in the 2014 FIFA World Cup™ play-offs with Spain needing just a point to qualify automatically as group winners at home to Georgia on Tuesday.
The 44-year-old -admitted that while he hoped they would win their third successive match, France's fate was out of their hands as they trail World Cup holders Spain by three points.
France, who have qualified for every major finals World or European since UEFA EURO 1996, are in danger, given the present FIFA rankings, of not being seeded for the play-offs, which features the eight best runners-up from the nine European zone groups, and that could see them face a tough battle to even make it to Brazil.
"I always prepare a France side to win, whatever the match," Deschamps said, who replaced fellow 1998 World Cup winner Laurent Blanc at the helm of the French team after EURO 2012 and whose side thrashed Australia 6-0 in last Friday's friendly.
"But one has to be realistic, today there are strong possibilities that we will be in the play-offs.
"The Spanish have their destiny in their own hands, it doesn't depend on us.
"With regard to the play-offs I could say that every one of the teams are to be avoided but if it is either Portugal or Sweden I will be afraid as they have great individual players like Cristiano Ronaldo and Zlatan Ibrahimovic."