France coach Didier Deschamps has guided his team into a third consecutive World Cup semi-final, following a 2-0 victory over Morocco in the quarter-finals on Thursday. Goals from captain Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele secured the win in Boston, keeping France on track for back-to-back World Cup titles.
Deschamps Reflects on Team's Success
“Right now we are only in the semi-finals. We have another step to go and it will obviously be really difficult,” Deschamps said after the match. The next game in Dallas against the winner of Spain vs. Belgium will be France’s third straight semi-final, a feat only achieved by Germany (1982, 1986, 1990) and Brazil (1994, 1998, 2002) before.
When asked about the recipe for such consistency, Deschamps replied, “I don't know, having very good players, I guess. But I can't be doing my job too badly. It is a human adventure and even though I chose the players, to be with this squad every day is very important. I am very happy on a personal level and also happy to see them enjoying themselves so much.”
Personal Tragedy and Team Unity
Deschamps, 57, had just returned to the squad after a trip home following the death of his mother. His players showed their support, with Mbappe embracing him after scoring in a previous 3-0 win over Sweden. “It is in this squad's DNA to all be together and behind the coach, whatever happens. We wanted to make him feel like he was not alone,” Mbappe said.
Deschamps' Legacy as France Coach
Deschamps took over as France coach 14 years ago, following the disastrous 2010 World Cup campaign marred by a player revolt against Raymond Domenech. After Laurent Blanc led the team to the Euro 2012 quarter-finals, Deschamps transformed France into a powerhouse. He captained France to their first World Cup in 1998 and Euro 2000, and as coach, he led them to victory in 2018 and the final in 2022.
His early tenure nearly derailed when France needed to overturn a 2-0 deficit against Ukraine in a 2014 World Cup playoff, but they advanced 3-2 on aggregate. They reached the quarter-finals in Brazil before losing to eventual champions Germany.
Record-Breaking Achievement
On Thursday, Deschamps took charge of his 25th World Cup game as coach, equaling the record held by Helmut Schoen (West Germany, 1966-1978). He is one of only three men to win the World Cup as both player and coach, alongside Mario Zagallo and Franz Beckenbauer. He now aims to become the second man to win it twice as a coach, after Italy's Vittorio Pozzo in the 1930s.
Deschamps is expected to step down after this tournament, with Zinedine Zidane tipped to succeed him. “I am not thinking about exiting in style, through the front door,” Deschamps said. “The collective interest is the most important thing.”
