Deschamps regrets missed chances

   

France coach Didier Deschamps believes the final scoreline was anecdotal after the 2016 UEFA EURO hosts were held to a 1-1 friendly draw in Serbia. Les Bleus were unable to follow up their encouraging 1-0 victory over Spain as Paul Pogba saw his early goal cancelled out by Aleksandar Kolarov, who rattled home a fantastic free-kick ten minutes from full-time in Belgrade.

Deschamps' men had other chances to score, notably through Remy Cabella and Loic Remy, but they could not force the issue.

"If I have any regrets, then it was the start of the of second half when we had two great chances through Remy and Cabella," the France boss told his federation's official website. "We were in trouble at set-pieces as the Serbs have six or seven players who are almost two metres tall.

                            Those who start and those who come on are required

                                   to give everything they can to be successful.

      Didier Deschamps, France coach on his side's succession of friendlies in lieu of EURO 2016                                                                         qualifiers.

In lieu of participating in a qualifying campaign, France must play ten friendly games against the nations in Group I. Portugal, Denmark, Albania and Armenia are still to come and Deschamps is urging his players to treat every match with the utmost seriousness as he begins the process of picking a squad for EURO 2016.

"We are not playing these games just for the sake of taking part," he said. "Certain things are required of my players. The more games they win, the better. Those who start and those who come on are required to give everything they can to be successful. After all, the final result is never an exact science."