Jérémy Jacquet marked his France debut with a clean sheet as Les Bleus edged Belgium 1-0 on Monday, delivering a composed defensive display while remaining notably demanding of his own contribution.
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The young defender helped France protect their narrow lead against Belgium and was pleased with the shutout, particularly after dealing with several defensive moments alongside Maxence.
“For a defender, there is nothing better than a clean sheet,” Jacquet said after the final whistle. “Maxence and I had quite a few situations to handle, so we can only be happy.”
Jacquet did not view his first senior international appearance as flawless, however. He felt he could have used the ball more effectively, especially after winning possession, and identified a need to locate France’s attacking line sooner.
He admitted to two or three losses of possession but said the overall result left him satisfied, with France taking the three points from the match.
France endured a more difficult spell after the interval, but Jacquet pointed to the quality within the squad and the need for a relatively unfamiliar group to find solutions quickly. He noted that the players had had limited time together and few training sessions before the game.
“There are only very high-quality players here,” he said. “The objective was to adapt quickly. We have not played much together and we have not had many training sessions, but the result is there.”
The defender also played down any immediate talk of establishing himself in the national side. Rather than considering his place in the hierarchy, Jacquet said he intends to follow instructions, take his opportunities and allow his international future to develop naturally.
He credited his family with helping him stay grounded and said he had been told by the coach two days before the Belgium match that he would start.
Jacquet described the France coach as close to the group and willing to give young players, as well as those with few caps, a chance to show themselves. He added that the manager regularly speaks with senior figures and communicates calmly when he has a message for him.
