France coach Didier Deschamps has hit out at critics of Manchester United fullback Patrice Evra.
Amazingly some pundits, including Bixente Lizarazu, believes Evra stepped over the line when making his rousing halftime speech which inspired France to victory over Belarus last week.
Deschamps said: "He was not in conflict with the role of coach. Pat has spoken, like me, like other players. I do not understand that it may disturb people that someone who is a substitute is more involved in the squad.
"He's a team leader for France, it does not just happen overnight. It takes the legitimacy of lived experience, and inevitably it is those who have been there for a long time who know the most.
"Evra is a leader, it's been six years since he moved to Manchester United and plays 60 matches a season.
"If I select him, it's not because I knew him in Monaco."
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