Poget: “We said to go calmly in the 2nd half, but what happened happened”

Gustavo Poyet spoke about the conversation he had with the referee, Laoth, the defensive function of the National Team and the way the defeat by France came about.

In detail, what he said at the press conference of the match against France:

For the defeat by France: “Today was the most difficult game since I joined the Greek National Team. The level of France is incredible. We made a big effort. We weren’t good technically in the first half, we didn’t play the game we had prepared. In the second we were a little better. When we were playing well, the penalty came with Mbappe. Then came the red card and then it was impossible to do anything. I don’t like to lose, but it’s definitely not easy to play here. We have a lot to learn from this game.”

About talking to the referees after the end and whether he complained: “I had no problem with the referees. We discussed the phase a bit with Mavropanos and Griezmann, it was definitely a dangerous play but Mavropanos doesn’t see the phase. I said he had a great career, he was a very important referee. We were talking about football and don’t believe me. We didn’t say anything about the game, we talked about football in general. When someone stops their career, everything ends. It was a difficult time for him. I hope he goes on vacation and continues his new life.”

As for whether a great striker is missing, as Charisteas or Mitroglou were in the past: “I don’t think so, today with the best strikers in the world the opponents didn’t do anything. We have to work more on giving them chances to score. Sometimes we do everything and it’s the fault of the player who doesn’t score the goal, but today it’s not his fault. I said before the game that the Greek players saw very high level players. For us it’s a little different. It was a big game if we want to go to the Euros and play at this level.”

For being reminiscent of the 2004 team defensively: “The easiest thing to ask is for them to defend well. If you don’t have attackers you can’t win. The most important was the second half. We said that we are going calmly, to play our game, but what happened happened. We played better, that’s what I wanted to see.”