France have dispatched two former World Cup winners in the knockout stage but are still far from a polished product and only getting better, suggested coach Didier Deschamps in an ominous warning to semi-final opponents Belgium.
After a sluggish first round, the French team exploded to life in a thrilling 4-3 win over Argentina at the start of the knockout phase and further verified impressive credentials with a workman-like 2-0 victory over plucky Uruguay in Friday’s quarter-final at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium.
“We had a complicated first round, without being flamboyant but realistic and effective. We did not break our stride. But from the match against Argentina, we have grown in strength,” said the France coach.
“We were the better team against Uruguay but there are still some imperfections. We have a lot more potential to show.”
Deschamps was most pleased by the fact a relatively young squad “showed their maturity” albeit scenes of petulance near the end could have cost one of two of the French a semi-final suspension.