France coach Didier Deschamps played down the significance of referee appointments as Les Bleus prepare for Thursday’s World Cup quarter-final against Morocco at Gillette Stadium, insisting he is simply focused on his team rather than the officials.
Speaking to reporters on the eve of the match, Deschamps refused to make Facundo Tello’s selection an issue. “There is nothing I can do about refereeing appointments. I just try to have confidence in the officials,” he said.
Tello’s role has drawn extra attention because of the wider backdrop of tension between France and Argentina following their meeting in the 2022 World Cup final, which Argentina won on penalties. The scrutiny is also fueled by the fact that French referee Francois Letexier handled Argentina’s 3-2 victory over Egypt in the last 16 on Tuesday. That game has since sparked a complaint from the Egyptian Football Association over decisions it considered controversial.
Asked about the possibility of a different standard, Deschamps responded with confidence in the entire officiating team. “I hope that Mr Tello and his assistants will be just as good as Mr Letexier and his assistants,” he said. “There are always decisions that can lead to debate depending on which side you are on, but our opponents are Morocco. I can’t consider the referee to be an opponent.”
Deschamps also confirmed a separate disciplinary update from FIFA, stating that France’s appeal was turned down regarding a yellow card shown to Michael Olise during the last-16 win over Paraguay. The Bayern Munich winger therefore remains one booking away from being suspended ahead of a potential semi-final.
“The yellow card has not changed. We were notified by FIFA this morning, it has been maintained,” Deschamps said.
Olise received the caution late in a physical, at times heated, encounter in Philadelphia after an altercation with Paraguay’s Matias Galarza. Television replays suggested there was limited contact between the two players. Olise gestured for Galarza to calm down before the Paraguayan fell, later claiming he had been struck in the face.
Alongside Olise, Bradley Barcola and Manu Kone are also carrying yellow cards and could face a ban if they pick up another booking against Morocco.
In team news, Deschamps said Aurelien Tchouameni—who missed the Paraguay match with a thigh problem—has been improving. “Aurelien is doing better. I can’t say more than that. He will maybe take part in training today but I will need to see. The others are all available,” he added.
Thursday’s quarter-final will be a repeat of France’s 2022 semi-final, a match they won 2-0, and it will also be the final game of Deschamps’ 14-year spell in charge if Les Bleus fail to go through. Having led France to World Cup success in 2018, Deschamps is expected to step away after the tournament ends.
Still, he insisted he is not looking ahead. “I am not thinking about that at all,” Deschamps said. “In my head, with my staff, the objective is just to do everything we can so that things go well. I am focused on this Morocco team and on things going well for us.”
