Lucas Digne (France team defender, after the 3-1 victory in Italy ) : “Of course we believed in it, we knew that if we showed a different face, anything was possible. It was an important match, in a big stadium with a great atmosphere, and we showed that we were a united group with a lot of qualities. We can use that to look forward. How did it go for me? Very well (laughs). They didn’t give me the goal, which isn’t nice for the keeper. Let’s just say that’s 50% of the job. We waited with Nkunku to see what the keeper was doing, and when I saw that he was taking two steps to the side to leave the side open, I said I was going to shoot. It’s a good response from the group. The critics are sometimes harsh, sometimes well-founded, but the objective has been achieved, we’ve shown that a group is being built.” (on TF1)

Mike Maignan (France goalkeeper): “I don’t know if I saved the team with that save, the match was over. But it felt good. I like making saves, when it’s decisive, when it’s important for the team. There was nothing better than victory, we wanted revenge. It was a match that was very much about pride before first place. We lost in September at home. We wanted to finish well. We had everything. Games like that, we know what we have to do when we play together. It’s very important for us, for our confidence. When you play as a team like that, when you work hard for each other, you can achieve great things. After that, these are performances that need to be repeated, they’re worthy of the French team.” (on TF1)

Also to be read
Les Bleus’ notes from Italy: Rabiot and Digne as hitmen, “Magic” Maignan, Thuram in a tough spot

Frankly, we really enjoyed playing this match.

Adrien Rabiot

Adrien Rabiot (Les Bleus midfielder): “It’s been a long time since we’ve played a match like this, since we’ve fought together like this right to the end. Our aim was to win by a two-goal margin, and we did just that. But frankly, the way we helped each other out in this match, the fighting spirit and the team spirit, all deserve a mention. Frankly, we really enjoyed playing this match. It was a different context (Thursday). Above all, we had to take revenge for the previous match against Italy, who came to win at our place. It was a great evening, and I hope we can continue to show that kind of face, because that’s the real face of the French team.”

Mattéo Guendouzi (Les Bleus midfielder) : “It was a great evening with a great win. It’s not easy for everyone to finish top of a group with Belgium and Israel. We all played a great game together, defending together from the first to the last minute with a new tactical set-up. If we keep up this spirit, we’ll be able to do great things in the future. We had our hearts set on making amends for the first leg we lost. It’s a deserved victory. Pride of place? Honestly, that’s not what we’re trying to warm up to, but it’s true that the home defeat gave us a feeling of revenge. We’re proud to have done such a good job tonight. Yes, 2024 is a good year. Finishing first in this group wasn’t easy, and then there’s the Euro semi-final…”

Marcus Thuram (Bleus striker): ” It was a hard-fought match in a fantastic stadium, and we’re very happy to have won. We’ve never lost that spirit, we’re still 23 brothers in the French team. My record? No, it’s not important. We won, I helped the team and I’m the happiest person in the world. I’m more decisive with Inter, yes, but I play just as well with the French team and the most important thing is that we win. We finished top of the group, so yes, it’s been a good year. “