France reversed and advanced to the next round. Deschamps said the victory was of great significance

The French team defeated Croatia in a penalty shootout and successfully advanced to the semi-finals of the UEFA Nations League. Coach Didier Deschamps said frankly that this victory and advancement meant a lot to them.

In the first leg of the UEFA Nations League quarter-finals, France lost to Croatia 0-2. In the second leg, France reversed and beat Croatia 2-0. The total score was 2-2, so it went to a penalty shootout. France successfully won with a small margin of 5-4.

At the post-match press conference, Deschamps said: "This promotion means a lot to the team, especially in the past few days we have heard some doubts. In the first leg, we had everything we needed, even if we didn't score a goal."

"But in the end we managed to come back and played a high-level game tonight against a strong Croatia team. We won in front of 80,000 fans. Their support is very important to us."

“Our players also showed excellent performances. Many of them are young players with little experience. This game is very important for their growth.”

Kylian Mbappe helped France score the first penalty, but he has not scored in regular time for the national team in seven consecutive games. When reporters mentioned Mbappe's performance, Deschamps said: "He is still an excellent player."

"He has been a great captain since the start of the week, with precise decisions, passion and determination both on and off the pitch. He has also been one of the leaders in the preparation for this game."

"He's been through a difficult time and we won't revisit it. Since the 2022 World Cup, he has taken over the captaincy and has performed very well. He is not only a world-class player, but he has also shown extraordinary captaincy in this training camp."