Didier Deschamps questions 4-4-2 shape: “This is not Playstation.” | OneFootball

Speaking to L’Équipe du Soir, France boss admitted that the slight deviation from his usual formation, opting for a 4-4-2 rather than his usual asymmetric 4-2-3-1 shape, did not have much success tonight as his side drew 1-1 with Ukraine.

“The goalkeeper did not have much to do. I tried this shape against Moldova two years ago, we had a bad 1st half as well then. It is not just about what is on paper… this is not Playstation, you need balance, substitutes. Everything depends on the opponent, an opponent that I expected to be tightly structured but not this tightly. It is not by putting three forwards on the pitch that you are going to score more goals, it is also a question of how the pitch is used, balance. I don’t need to be convinced, I know deep down inside me that balance is a lot more fragile. Owing to the high level, obviously difficulties increase.”