SuggestedLeadIn: France trained and spoke on Thursday (3rd September) ahead of their friendly against Portugal in Lisbon on Friday.

Script: SOUNDBITE: (French) Didier Deschamps, France coach:

"We will be in adversity tomorrow (Friday), necessarily, which is also good even if it goes against the result we could probably have obtained in an easier way, but we need that - to be confronted with what is done best in Europe and in the world."

SOUNDBITE: (French) Didier Deschamps, France coach:

"Obviously when you play at the highest level, I repeat it, you do it with a winning spirit but you can't take it for granted. It is not a qualifying match (tomorrow) and I am not going to change my guideline in relation of what I have said, deadline or no deadline, we have this match now and we will have another one three days after in Bordeaux (against Serbia) and certainly there will be changes of players and in the system of playing."

SOUNDBITE: (French) Didier Deschamps, France coach:

"The presence of Karim (Benzema) is a very important, period. Why? because he is a high level player and he has the international experience so, obviously, I prefer to have him with us and also does the team, he is not going to solve everything by himself but obviously Karim is Karim as Cristiano (Ronaldo) is for Portugal. When Karim is not there it's not the same for the French team"