DESCHAMPS: KOUNDE WAS WRONG TO WEAR NECKLACE

DIDIER DESCHAMPS told Jules Kounde he was wrong to play in his gold chain against Poland, regardless of whether he was trying to make a political statement with a rainbow logo. ‘Players don’t have the right to wear necklaces,’ said the France boss. ‘He can’t play with sunglasses, a watch or a chain, it’s not allowed. I thought he had taken it off. That’s our fault, our mistake.’

The game stopped as Kounde removed his jewellery and the long lenses of cameras noticed the gold chain adorned with different coloured letters, triggering a theory that it might be a rainbow protest. ‘I don’t know what was on it but he is superstitious and does wear that in training,’ said Deschamps. ‘I told him, “You’re lucky, I would have asked you to take it off as well”.’ France encountered fewer problems with the game itself, taking the lead in the first half through Olivier Giroud, making him his country’s record scorer, clear of Thierry Henry. ‘It is a childhood dream,’ said Giroud. ‘Now my obsession is to go as far as possible with this team. The adventure continues.’

Kylian Mbappe added two in the second half, making him the top scorer in the tournament on five goals.

‘The only objective for me is to win the World Cup,’ said Mbappe. ‘I came here to win the World Cup, not the Golden Boot. If I win it I’ll be happy but that’s not what I’m here for.’ Deschamps hailed Giroud’s record. ‘He has always been an important player,’ said the France boss. ‘It is a difficult record to break and there’s a guy beside me who might break it one day.’

This was a nod towards Mbappe, who collected the man of the match award. ‘Kylian didn’t have his best match,’ said Deschamps, ‘but he can change a match in a moment.’