Didier Deschamps critical of France's attitude after Kylian Mbappe salvages draw against Iceland

Manager says world champions were 'a little too relaxed' during friendly

France forward Kylian Mbappe is helped by medical staff during their friendly against Iceland at Roudourou Stadium in Guingamp on Thursday. AFP

Argentina's Franco Cervi (L) scores a goal during the international friendly soccer match between Argentina and Iraq, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. EPA

UAE´s defender Mohamed Al-Minhali jumps after UAE's midfielder Omar Abdulrahman scored during a friendly football match between United Arab Emirates and Honduras at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys in Barcelona. AFP

UAE's goalkeeper Khalid Eisa (up) vies with Honduras' defender Henry Figueroa (L) during a friendly football match between United Arab Emirates and Honduras at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys in Barcelona. AFP

Honduras' forward Bryan Rochez (R) controls the ball during a friendly football match between United Arab Emirates and Honduras at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys in Barcelona. AFP

UAE's midfielder Ali Salmeen (L) vies with Honduras' midfielder Bryan Acosta during a friendly football match between United Arab Emirates and Honduras at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys in Barcelona. AFP

Iraq's Rebin Sulaka and Hussam Kadhim in action with Argentina's Eduardo Salvio during the Argentina vs Iraq football match at the Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Reuters

Iraqi player Rebin Ghareeb Solaka (C) in action with Argentine player Simeone Giovanni (R) during the international friendly soccer match between Argentina and Iraq, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. EPA

Chris Gunter (C) of Wales and Alvaro Morata (L) of Spain in action during the international friendly soccer match between Wales and Spain, Cardiff, Wales, Britain. EPA

Raul Albiol and Rodri Hernandez of Spain look on after the International Friendly match between Wales and Spain in Cardiff, United Kingdom. Getty Images

Ryan Giggs and Ben Davies after the match between Wales vs Spain. Reuters

Suso Fernandez of Spain takes on Jazz Richards of Wales during the International Friendly match between Wales and Spain on October 11, 2018 in Cardiff, United Kingdom. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

Iceland's forward Albert Gudmundsson (L) vies with France's midfielder Tanguy Ndombele during the friendly football match between France and Iceland at the Roudourou stadium in Guingamp, western France. AFP

France's forward Kylian Mbappe (R) vies with Iceland's midfielder Runar Mar Sigurjonsson during the friendly football match between France and Iceland at the Roudourou Stadium in Guingamp, western France. AFP

Didier Deschamps insisted he was not worried after France salvaged a last-minute draw in an international friendly against against Iceland.

Out of form and regularly conceding goals, Iceland were expected to lose against the World Cup champions, but strikes either side of half time from Birkir Bjarnason and Kari Arnason put France on the back foot and in danger of a 2-0 loss.

However, Les Bleus fought back to level the game at the Stade du Roudourou in Guingamp thanks to an 86th-minute own goal by Holmar Orn Eyjolfsson and a last-gasp penalty from substitute Kylian Mbappe.

Deschamps acknowledged his team had got off to a bad start, with Iceland's organisation seemingly catching them off-guard.

"We started badly in this match, there was a problem with our attitude," he said in quotes that appeared on the team's official website. "We were a little too relaxed in front of a well-organised team that played well against us.

"But as soon as we found a little more rhythm, more density, more races forward, we hurt more, but we're not going to worry."

France manager Didier Deschamps was not particularly pleased with his team's performance on Thursday. AP Photo

______________

Read more:

Saudi Arabia likely to see Neymar in action as part of Brazil's Global Tour at Riyadh

After the highs of the World Cup, Croatia have crashed back down to earth with bang

Leroy Sane 'more motivated' than ever to impress Germany manager Joachim Low

______________

Dimitri Payet, Thomas Lemar and Mbappe were among those introduced from the bench but Deschamps maintained he had chosen the right squad.

"It was logical to give playing time to other players, there are two matches," he added.

On the back of a 6-0 defeat against Switzerland and a 3-0 loss to Belgium, Iceland manager Erik Hamren remained optimistic despite the setback in clinching his first victory.

"I'm proud of the team," he said in quotes that appeared on Icelandic site Visir. "We had talked about having a better attitude, tried to work on the defence, we needed to improve after Switzerland and Belgium, the attitude was fantastic to see.

"This is what I wanted to see in our team. Iceland has done it against good teams before and I wanted to see it myself. Now we know what to do - I hope this continues, especially the attitude that the players showed tonight."