Of course, Didier Deschamps has above all projected himself into the future, on the “pool” and the “potential of high-level players” which should enable him to make the Blues shine until the 2026 World Cup. But, after the announcement of his extension to the gallery of the General Assembly of the French Football Federation (FFF), Saturday in Paris, the coach also returned to the last World Cup in Qatar.
“Despite the difficulties and the imponderables before and during, the group of players who were in Doha had a lot of qualities and talents, with executives who played their role well and young people”, underlined “DD” in front of the press. “It resulted in a very competitive squad that showed incredible strength and unity that carried over to the pitch. “Except in the final, where the Blues were non-existent for more than 70 minutes, before the magic Mbappé operated, but not enough to beat Argentina (3-3, 4-2 on penalties).
Deschamps insisted on “the quality of the adversary”. But not that: “There were at least five players out of the starting eleven who were not up to the level for such a match and against such an opponent”, dropped the double world champion, as a player (1998) then coach (2018). Just before, he had mentioned “four or five players who were less physically well. »
A strange virus has disturbed the Blues
Prepared under the threat of a mysterious virus which had hit part of the workforce (Rabiot, Upamecano, Coman, Varane and Konaté), the final had seen the very early replacements, from the 41st minute, of Ousmane Dembélé and Olivier Giroud by Randal Kolo Muani and Marcus Thuram. Executives Théo Hernandez and Antoine Griezmann left the field in the 71st minute. Adrien Rabiot, concussed, and Raphaël Varane, exhausted, came out during extra time.
“There is also an emotional side, recalls Deschamps. It was the first final for some, it’s special. “It’s not necessarily the neophytes who missed out, but let’s move on…” We didn’t exist for a good hour. Then we came back from nowhere. We pushed them. I do not hide the part where there was no match. “A little message from the eternal coach, in office since 2012, for his “great friend” Christophe Dugarry?