​After witnessing the roller-coaster ride of back-to-back World Cup finals, with France celebrating in Moscow and then suffering heartbreak in Qatar, Didier Deschamps is eager to bow out on a high note with the French team in New Jersey next weekend. Before that moment arrives, his side must first overcome Morocco in Boston. Deschamps, who has tasted World Cup glory both as a player and as a coach, understands the jagged path such tournaments offer. Following a hard-fought win over Paraguay, France now face a tougher test against the African champions, in a rematch of the 2022 World Cup semi-final. He knows that this Moroccan squad is considerably stronger than the one they faced four years ago and he has no intention of underestimating them.
“Morroco’s profile is not the same as Paraguay’s. We met them four years ago in the semi-finals,” Deschamps said. “They played the AFCON final. They have top players. They are not here just to participate; they are here to win. We must be ready, perform, and deliver against this great team.” France’s offense has clicked with relative ease at times, thanks to a wealth of world-class attackers like Kylian Mbappé, Michael Olise, Moussa Dembélé, Rayan Cherki, Amine Doué, and Josh Barcola, all of whom have contributed in different ways. Yet Deschamps is demanding even more from his squad.
“We have to be efficient, offensively speaking,” he told reporters. “In every phase, both teams possess strong assets.” He added, “We are efficient, but we could have done better in this area. Sometimes you have six chances and score two goals; other times you have two chances and convert twice. The goal is to be consistently efficient.”
Always the pragmatist, Deschamps appears to have unleashed a more expansive approach from his team in this tournament, much to the satisfaction of the French media and supporters. The upgrade in attacking intent can be traced to the balance in midfield, where Adrien Rabiot and Aurélien Tchouaméni have supplied the defensive backbone while still enabling France to push forward with purpose.
That component has hit a snag recently, however, after Tchouaméni missed their Paraguay match with a thigh injury, fueling speculation about his availability for the next game. As is his wont, Deschamps kept his cards close to his chest on the issue.
“He feels better, but I left the hotel early this morning and cannot say more,” Deschamps said. “He might take part in today’s training. All other players are available.” If France stumble on Thursday, it would mark Deschamps’ final game in charge of the national team. It would be an emotional exit, though Deschamps dismissed even the prospect when pressed by a Moroccan journalist in the press conference.
“It’s nice of you to think about that, because I’m not thinking about it at all,” he replied. “The Paraguay match could have been my last as well. I’m focused on this Morocco game.” The pressure of such a moment is undeniable, but Deschamps remains steadfast, determined to guide his team toward a result that would grant him a dignified send-off or at least a flawless performance as he nears the end of his tenure.