Didier Deschamps has criticized defender Jules Kounde for playing with a gold chain against Poland during both teams’ World Cup round of 16 ties on Sunday, December 4, 2022.
Didier Deschamps told Jules Kounde he was wrong to play wearing a gold chain against Poland, regardless of whether he was trying to make a political statement with a rainbow logo.
The 24-year-old started the battle with the jewelry on, and those watching on television could see it. Many people noted it on social media.
Kounde started the match wearing the necklace on before an assistant referee made him aware that he was not allowed to and made the defender take it off.
But the officials did not pick up on it until just a few minutes before the end of the first half.
When it was eventually flagged to them in the 42nd minute, referee Valenzuela Saez ordered him to take it off.
The Barcelona man proceeded to do so with the help of one of the French coaching staff.
The game stopped as Kounde removed the jewelry and the long lenses of cameras noticed the gold chain adorned with different coloured letters, triggering a theory that it might be a rainbow protest.
After the game, France boss Didier Deschamps expressed his unhappiness with his play during the post-match press conference.
Deschamps appeared to be frustrated with the Barcelona man not taking it off before the match began, and pointed to the regulations banning accessories. The France manager added that Koundé wears the chain in training as well, and sees it as a “superstition“.
Koundé played out the rest of the match before being replaced by Axel Disasi, turning in a solid performance as he cemented his place as France’s starting right-back, having taken over the role after Benjamin Pavard’s middling performance against Australia in the opening game.
On the other hand, Mesut Ozil has jokingly taken credit for the World Cup goal Olivier Giroud scored to become the all-time leading goalscorer for France.
The 36-year-old netted the opening goal of the last-16 game against Poland, taking over from Thierry Henry as France’s top marksman with 52 strikes.
Giroud’s finish, which set Les Bleus on their way to a 3-1 victory, was reminiscent of the famous bounce technique used by his former Arsenal teammate Ozil to both score and pass.
The former Arsenal striker overtook Thierry Henry to become the France national team’s all-time top goalscorer with his goal on the stroke of half-time against Robert Lewandowski’s Poland side seeing him reach the historical figure.
Giroud struck from close-range after being found unmarked in the box courtesy of a brilliant slicing pass by two-goal match-winner Kylian Mbappe, with the current AC Milan man then hitting the ball into the ground using his left foot and lifting it over the onrushing Wojciech Szczesny.
Olivier Giroud – France All-Time leading goalscorer – 🇫🇷 Record breaker.@_OlivierGiroud_🤩🙏 pic.twitter.com/MAjZiKMgGo
— Dubois (@CFCDUBois) December 4, 2022
Tweeting during France’s match, Ozil said: ‘Nice goal, who taught you that bro’ alongside a laughing face emoji and a gif of the duo smiling at each other during their Arsenal years.
Nice goal… who taught you that bro 😂😎🔥 #FRA #YaGunnersYa #Worldcup2022 @_OlivierGiroud_ pic.twitter.com/kiydGvQ5Ii
— Mesut Özil (@M10) December 4, 2022
The duo enjoyed some great times together in north London, winning the FA Cup with the Gunners on three occasions. While Giroud is still going strong for his nation, Ozil has not played for Germany since retiring from international football in 2018.
After this win over Poland, Giroud will have his sights on the next round of the tournament with a quarter-final to come against England.
😍 Loving the @Ibra_official 🤝 @_OlivierGiroud_ bromance ❤️🖤pic.twitter.com/JENV824roI
— SempreMilan 🏆 (@SempreMilanCom) November 23, 2022
