Varane: “The only goal is to win the World Cup”

Raphael Varane not satisfied with the semifinals of Qatar World Cupthe minimum goal set by the president of his federation for them, and ensured that the goal of the French team is to reaffirm the crown they achieved in Russia 2018.

“We have had a good competition, but the only goal is to win it,” said the defender of Manchester Utd. “We know it’s difficult. It’s satisfying to be in the semifinals, it’s not easy, we know the level is high. But our opponent, we want to win,” said the player from unitedtwo days before measuring this Wednesday against the Morocco for a place in the final.

The second captain of the French team knows that he has a responsibility in the dressing room, the experience in situations like this, something he faced at halftime in the round of 16 match against Polandwhen he stepped on the floor before the struggles his team was going through.

“We were a little out of the game, we started a new competition, the direct elimination of matches, and I felt that I had to strengthen the team. I went up to the floor, but it was not something that was prepared, although I think that the is expected of me”, pointed out the former defender of real Madrid.

That seniority has to be put, he said, at the service of the team for the next game against Morocco, “a difficult opponent, who defends well and will not make it easy.”

“Too confident? We have enough experience not to fall into that trap. If they have reached this stage of the competition it is not by chance. They defend very well, it is very difficult to score. We who have experience have to prepare others for what lies ahead to us. We will not fall for ease, we have to give ourselves completely. A place in the final must be won”, he stated.

“Morocco He is a solid opponent, difficult to attack, with a lot of defensive solidarity. They are writing the history of Moroccan football. They provide collective energy, a performance that gives them great confidence. They also have offensive weapons, a good counterattack and set pieces. They have quality players,” he assessed.

Varane He is part of the group that Didier Deschamps began to build since he arrived in the national team and that on Wednesday will play in his third semifinal of a major competition, after Euro 2016 and the World Cup 2018. They have always surpassed them.

“We are aware that we have been doing something great for years. But we are not concentrating on that, we will see later. In the last major competitions we had good results. It is difficult to be aware of what we are achieving, but you don’t need to be distracted by that, that was the basis of our success,” he said.

Varane He also appreciates the relationship with Deschamps, which has “evolved because there is more knowledge and trust”. “He knows who I am, my personality and what he expects from me. I know what I can contribute to the group. We are in permanent contact to improve. Having worked so much together is a reference,” he said.

Varane He affirmed that the reference of 2018 could be used, but that “in football four years is an eternity” and that “many things have changed”.

“The level continues to rise, everything is more intense, faster. The teams work more tactically. At this level, a small mistake can cost you. The level will continue to rise and you have to be ready,” he assured. .

The defender emphasized the contribution of veterans and, especially, of Antoine Griezmann, become the best passer in the history of France. “Now he plays in a different position, but he has the same quality, he covers a lot of ground and supports his teammates. He has the ability to control the tempo of the game, to change it with a pass, acceleration, pressure. From his experience he is a player central defender. He has confidence and contributes a lot on and off the field”, he stressed.