Didier has nothing left to contribute to the team.
Deschamps’ departure from the French national team has been officially announced. World Cup-2026. But in the Nations League, where the French will face Croatia in the quarterfinals in March, Deschamps will lead the team. He will also qualify for the World Cup in North America. Then they are waiting for Zidane. And it is rightly said in France that Zinedine spent too much time without work. He refused clubs and national teams in the name of the “tricolors”. Rusty, like the team of the predictable Deschamps itself. And it is time to understand exactly what is important for the vice-world champions to change with a new coach in the near future.
Eliminating conflicts with the management
Over his many years in charge of the club, Deschamps has fallen out with many footballers. The famous conflict with Benzema cost French football a victory against Argentina in the final. Didier humiliated Karim so often that the Algerian Frenchman refused to participate in the last matches of the World Cup in Qatar, even though he had recovered from an injury and was part of the national team for the tournament. At Euro 2024, the coach fell out with Giroud. More recently, Deschamps has had conflicts with the captains. Griezmann was ordered to withdraw from the French team, Mbappé was not called up for the matches. Zidane must revive the relationship between the coach and the team. For the moment, Deschamps is in a tense situation. But because French football is run by toothless people, Didier was not fired after his exit from Euro 2024, when that should have been the case. France played predictably, without spark and without progress compared to its glorious past. The team, which has enormous potential, is stagnating.
Kill blind rationality
When France is forced to play in a non-trivial way, it is immediately difficult for them. They did not participate in the Paris final against Portugal and offered Ronaldo the European Cup. We were eliminated by Switzerland and Spain at the following continental championships. We have been to the final twice at the World Championships, but Deschamps has worked for World Cup-2014, where the Germans eliminated Benzema, because Karim was not supported by his teammates, chained by Didier. Blind rationality was forced to die against Argentina in the final. Then the coach failed in preparation and clearly lost the debuts of Scaloni and Messi. But Mbappe acted, who made a speech at the break, created a comeback and took France to penalties. It is important for Zidane to make them a more exciting team, and not crackers with a senile rational approach, despite the number of young people in the base and the desire of the players to play better. Today’s France humiliates football.
Streamlining the actions of midfielders
In winning tournaments, France has always had balance in the middle of the field. Great champions have played in the center. At home during Euro 1984, France’s first victory in a major tournament, Hidalgo brought Fernandez, Tigana, Giresse and Platini closer to the attack. On World Cup-1998, which also ends in Paris, the great Brazilians are beaten by Zidane with the support of Deschamps in the support zone, Petit and Karambe. Vieira came on. At Euro 2000 they reached the final with Patrick at center. Helped Zidane, Djorkaeff and Deschamps. Years later, in the World Cup final against Croatia, Pogba, Kanté and Matuidi were of great help to Griezmann and Mbappé. Now in the Nations League, the main pair of midfielders Tchuameni and Kante were supported by different midfielders. We don’t know what form veteran Ngolo will be in World Cup-2026, he is 33 years old and performs in Saudi Arabia. Zidane must find an approach for Zaire-Emery to PSG and develop Camavinga’s talents.
Modernize the game convincingly
France is so powerful that even Deschamps wins in the preparatory phase. But the coach has enjoyed tactical success for many years: the role of free artist Griezmann in World Cup-2022. Then Antoine discovered the Argentinian headquarters in the final; the trick didn’t work. Griezmann left the national team following Deschamps’ decision. There is no new playmaker. Theo Hernandez in Milan plays in the best matches more interestingly than for the French national team. Koundé on the right can do a lot, but Jules needs a more skillful coach than Didier. Also to Zidane, if he awaits an invitation to the French team after World Cup-2026, it is important to play as Salib’s partner in the center of defense. Maignan’s age allows him to be the main player under Zinedine. But the Tricolores lack a tyrant on the field. The position is not important, you need a live player like Lyon’s Cherki, only with Zidane’s superpowers at his peak. Old Mbappé’s efforts may not be enough.
Reassure with leadership qualities
Deschamps reminds me of Southgate. He’s clearly not the worst coach. With many victories. With enormous experience, a long period in the French team. And at the same time, the mentor exudes blind arrogance, which prevents France from winning trophies and playing finals even more often. They are not weaker than Portugal, Italy or Spain, but at three different euros, they became first in place of Didier. Deschamps may be a dictator, but he has not become a valued team leader. It is important for Zidane to confirm the magic. At Real Madrid, there was most often no problem with motivation. The game’s flaws were obvious, but they made up for them and beat the toughest opponents. Zinedine is in a different status from that of Deschamps. It will be easier for him to convince players to follow him. Also, don’t trust all the players too much. There have been episodes in the lives of Pogba, Benzema or Mbappé of which we cannot be proud.
Zidane must guide him and force him to avoid the mistakes he himself made when he stomped on his opponents with his feet and hit his head in retaliation for Materation’s nasty remark about Materation’s sister. Zinedine. It’s hard to guess what will happen to France in a year and a half. By then, they might lose a few more important artists. At a minimum, Kanté will follow Griezmann. Lloris, Varane, Pogba, Matuidi and Giroud are no longer there. Goalkeeper Maignan, central defender Konaté, midfielders Tchouameni and Rabiot, as well as Mbappé in the “nine” are not the worst options. But if, when Zidane appears at the head of the French team in Ligue 1, they find a new Benzema, it will become easier. Karim could still find himself on Zinedine’s coaching team. We need to bring together as many people as possible that the team likes. Zidane showed patience even though he was humiliated by the former president of the French Football Federation by not responding to his calls. Deschamps will leave, a new era will begin. But first they will find out where France will end up in the Nations League and World Cup-2026.
About the Author
