France brush off Ivory Coast loss, call it timely World Cup reminder

France's national football team shrugged off a surprising 2-1 friendly defeat against Ivory Coast, viewing the setback as a timely reminder rather than a cause for alarm ahead of the World Cup. The team, preparing for the tournament, conceded goals in the second half after leading through Rayan Cherki's first-half strike.

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It's a pity to lose but we're in a preparation phase, we stay confident. There is no conclusion to draw from this game, even if we had won it. We will be ready.

Midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni emphasized the context of the match as a preparation phase, stating, "It's a pity to lose but we're in a preparation phase, we stay confident." He added that no definitive conclusions should be drawn from the game, regardless of the outcome, and affirmed the team's readiness. Defender Lucas Hernandez also played down the loss, noting the numerous substitutions made and the team's generally good spirits.

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We always want to win but we're in a phase of preparation and there were a lot of substitutions. We're in good spirits.

Coach Didier Deschamps admitted that France lost control of the game after an encouraging first half. He warned that the team would face opponents with similar pace and qualities in the World Cup, specifically mentioning their opening match against Senegal on June 16. "A defeat is never pleasant, even if we did some good things in the first half," Deschamps said. "In the second half we made a lot of changes but that's no excuse. We were not as good after the break and they brought a lot of pace."

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A defeat is never pleasant, even if we did some good things in the first half. In the second half we made a lot of changes but that's no excuse. We were not as good after the break and they brought a lot of pace. We will face the same type of team on June 16.

Deschamps suggested the defeat could be beneficial by preventing complacency among his players. Cherki echoed this sentiment, calling it "a little warning" and stating the team would not enter the World Cup with an overconfident attitude.

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It's a reminder, if we needed one, not to think we're better than we are.