RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) – France coach Didier Deschamps has “far too much respect” for Ecuador to talk up his team’s chances of another goal-feast in their final group game today.
France followed up their 3-0 win against Honduras with a 5-2 thrashing of Switzerland last Friday and comfortably top Group E with six points. They have a massively superior goal difference, meaning they could even lose and still go through.
The rampant forward line has scored 39 goals stretching back over the past 11 games and the team’s flamboyant style has drawn widespread praise.
But Deschamps has been playing down expectations since the Switzerland rout and is in no mood to stop.
“Ecuador has a chance to go through as well, so I’m not going to start predicting how many goals we’re going to score, even though we’ve been doing well in attack,” he said. “I have far too much respect for this Ecuador team to think we’re going to have an easy game tomorrow [today]. We’re taking them very seriously.”
A draw is enough to guarantee top spot for France, and would also send Ecuador through to the next round if Switzerland fail to beat Honduras in the other match.
His team may face a sterner test against Ecuador, which have a more dangerous forward line than the Swiss or Honduras. Enner Valencia has three goals – the same tally as France’s Karim Benzema – and Antonio Valencia has proved with Manchester United how dangerous he can be down the right flank.
Still, despite talking up Ecuador’s ability, Deschamps is confident enough to announce he will make changes.
There is one enforced switch, with midfielder Yohan Cabaye suspended, but Deschamps hinted others – including Benzema – may get a rest.
Most of the reported changes were in defence, with fullbacks Mathieu Debuchy and Patrice Evra set to be replaced by Bacary Sagna and Lucas Digne, and Laurent Koscielny reportedly coming in for Raphael Varane.
The inexperienced Morgan Schneiderlin is touted to replace Cabaye.
