Deschamps admits Lloris concern
PARIS, Nov 07, 2013 (AFP) - France coach Didier Deschamps on Thursday admitted that he feared for the health of his goalkeeper and captain Hugo Lloris after he suffered a nasty head injury playing for Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League last weekend.
The France captain, 26, momentarily lost consciousness following a collision with Everton striker Romelu Lukaku towards the end of last Sunday's 0-0 Premier League draw at Goodison Park, but he insisted on playing on.
"I was worried at the time," said Deschamps at a press conference in Paris where he named his squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifying play-off against Ukraine.
"When there is a clash like that it is always worrying. But the fact that he was able to continue and make a decisive save reassured me.
"That is another controversy. The responsibility lies with the club doctor, The important thing for me is that Hugo is ok and there are no worries, but the way it was dealt with is another discussion."
The Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas and the club's medical staff were criticised for not taking Lloris off, and England's Professional Footballers' Association have since called for guidelines to ensure that any player who loses consciousness is substituted automatically.
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