France vs Luxembourg - Deschamps pays tribute to 'extraordinary' Mbappe

Posted Sunday, September 03, 2017 by PA

France coach Didier Deschamps is happy to have Kylian Mbappe and Thomas Lemar at his disposal after the pair continued their fine form through contrasting transfer deadline-day experiences.

Lemar scored twice following a failed bid from Arsenal as Les Bleus hammered Holland 4-0 on Thursday night, with substitute Mbappe then opening his international account hours after joining Paris St Germain.

Mbappe, still just 18, helped Monaco depose PSG as Ligue 1 champions last season, but moved on an initial loan on Thursday ahead of an expected 180million euro (B#166m) deal next summer.

Deschamps said at a pre-match press conference reported by L'Equipe: "He doesn't surprise me. I didn't call him up by chance, I know what he is capable of doing.

"It's good that he scored his first goal and he could have done it sooner.

"Of course he still has room to develop, but what he has already achieved at his age makes him an extraordinary player.

"(Lemar) is in great form. He had a very good season with Monaco, he had a very good game in June against England and plenty of games before that as well and he has picked up where he left off.

"Beyond the two goals, he was an important player on Thursday."

Both are likely to be involved again in Sunday's World Cup qualifier against Luxembourg in Toulouse, although Deschamps backed Arsenal's Olivier Giroud to continue in a starting role.

"I have confidence in him and I will let him play," he said.

"With us, he is very effective. Right now he is our best goalscorer."

That is some claim, with Antoine Griezmann regaining form and fitness and "playing with a smile", according to Deschamps, and Giroud's club-mate Alexandre Lacazette also in the picture, and it was put to Deschamps that he has perhaps the best attacking options in the world right now.

"Of course!" he laughed, adding: "I have a lot of players in the attacking sector and they have a lot of quality, I am not complaining.

"They are young players, with hunger and a lot of ambition, but they still have steps to climb."

Opposite number Luc Holtz agreed: "We know France have extraordinary quality in attack.

"Deschamps has an embarrassment of riches. I will try to find the answers, we will see if I can do that better than against Holland (in June's 5-0 loss in Rotterdam)."

But for all the feel-good factor, with his side three points clear in Group A, Deschamps is not easing off ahead of the clash with the minnows.

"We are in a more comfortable position, no doubt," he said. "But tomorrow's three points are just as important.

"We respect Luxembourg. We won (3-1) over there, but they caused us problems."

Holtz added: "For us, that is the match to call on. Defensively, we were well organised, we did not give them much space, we scored a goal and could have had a second.

"It will be difficult at their home, but my players must not be nervous - on the contrary, they have to enjoy playing in a match like this."

France's Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny trained as normal on Saturday after suffering an Achilles tendon injury against Holland.