Meunier urges Belgium to draw inspiration from ‘French arrogance’
In an interview with RTBF, Belgium right-back Thomas Meunier admitted that the France team was superior in the semi-final of the League of Nations. And he explains the superiority by the mental of the players of Didier Deschamps.
This time, it is no longer a question of “seum”. Although Belgium is at the top of the FIFA rankings, the Red Devils suffered another setback against the French team on October 7 in the semi-finals of the League of Nations. At the Allianz Stadium in Turin, the Blues, despite being led 2-0 by Belgium, ended up overthrowing the Red Devils 3-2 in the semi-finals of the League of Nations. Injured in the knee, Thomas Meunier had not been able to measure himself against the Tricolors. Four months later, he nevertheless recognized that Didier Deschamps’ players were stronger:
“I think France were superior for most of the game,” the Borussia Dortmund right-back confirmed on Thursday at the RTBF. Had two or three occasions, two but magnificent. Then, what we lack is this presence, this arrogance and this charisma which means that the adversary must continue to fear us and not say to himself: ‘now we can regain the upper hand’. Normally, when it’s 0-2, a team of Belgium’s level, you don’t leave a window of opportunity for a team like France. And that’s what we did. I wasn’t there either. But what I can say is what I analyzed on television. I don’t know what the tactical points were, nor the words of the coach and the group at half-time.”
“We sometimes tend to underestimate ourselves”
For the former PSG defender, the Red Devils must be inspired by the mindset of the world champions.
“In Belgium, when we look at the French team, we often talk about French arrogance. But I think it’s an element that must be important. I don’t see it as arrogance, but more like Admittedly, a bit exaggerated, but that’s also what allows them to say to themselves: ‘Who are these guys, world leaders, nothing to do, we’re still going to have them’. French recklessness, added to their self-confidence, because they are players who “present” in clubs that are the best clubs in the world. Sometimes you have to be a little more like that too. Not disrespectful, but a little more arrogant, a little crazier. I think it worked well for us not to always be too smooth, too licked. We sometimes tend to underestimate ourselves I find, “says Thomas Meunier.