Paris 2024 Olympics: “It could be a little revenge against Argentina, it's up to us to take it”, says Joris Chotard before the quarter-final against Argentina

Joris Chotard estime que ce n’est qu’un quart de finale contre l’Argentine. MAXPPP – Dylan Meiffret

The midfielder of the French team and Montpellier was kind enough to talk about the upcoming match against the Argentinians, unlike his coach who was satisfied with the victory against New Zealand.

Thierry Henry, coach of the Bleuets: “You know me, there are still things to sort out. We had more control, we changed two or three things. What's good is that we were able to rotate, keep the same rhythm, the same tempo. It's a shame to put yourself in danger on certain actions. Now another tournament begins. 

Honestly, I hope that the fact of having been able to rotate, unlike Argentina, can make the difference, that was the goal. We will try to take advantage, to recover, it will happen quickly and we will focus on this match.

In the history of football, it has already been seen where we thought the teams were fresher and we saw the result. We had planned that, it worked.

I will be honest about the heat, it was more intense in the stands than on the pitch at the start of the match. It doesn't help but we prepared here, when you play in Nice and Marseille, you can play elsewhere afterwards. The guys held up when they had to train at 36 degrees at 4 p.m.”

Joris Chotard (Bleuets midfielder) :“It's a perfect start to the competition. Afterwards, I think that tonight, we played a good match. There are still things to correct, to rework in the little time we have. It's up to us to switch to what we did well and to be focused now on the next match. Argentina is special. Afterwards, in any case, to go all the way, we have to beat all the teams that are going to be in our way. So there you go, whether it's Argentina or another team, we're going to have to go into battle and win.

I think that Argentina, who were unable to rotate, could play a role, yes. Obviously, when you have three games in your legs and little rest for the fourth. Whereas we were able to rotate. Afterwards, there are some of us who have played all the games. But there you go, I think that one game difference in the legs could make the difference. And two or three more days could also make the difference. Afterwards, it will be up to us to take advantage of that and use the strong moments we have. Show that we are superior physically and in all other matches.

This is not a final before time, it is a quarter-final. It is going to be a great quarter-final. We know and we know the players they have and the players they have added to this collective. We know very well that it is a very good team and that they are announced as favorites. But we are a very good team and we will have to show that we are superior.

There are necessarily antecedents. Whether it is the World Cup, whether it is the chants that we have heard. But afterwards, as I said, whether it is Argentina or another team, we will have to win the duels, go into battle and be stronger. We will have to move on, in quotation marks. It could be a little revenge, let's say, up to us to take it. In any case, France – Argentina, whether at the Olympic Games, in the U19 or in the A, it's a big game and it's a great match."