World Cup Final: Argentina v France – Didier Deschamps was aiming for a winning streak

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France’s Didier Deschamps could become the second coach to lead a nation to two separate World Cup wins, after Vittorio Pozzo with Italy in 1934 and 1938, the host nation: Qatar. Dates: November 20 – December 18. Coverage: Live on BBC TV, BBC iPlayer, BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Sounds and the BBC Sport website and app. TV listings day by day – full coverage details

Didier Deschamps, already a World Cup winner as a player and manager, could write another remarkable chapter in the story of football on Sunday, in his last game for France.

Les Bleus could become the first country since Brazil in 1962 to retain the title, as Deschamps aims to be the first coach since 1938 – and only the second ever – to lead his country to two World Cup victories.

The 54-year-old’s contract expires at the end of the tournament, and whatever happens in Sunday’s final against Lionel Messi-inspired Argentina, Deschamps’ place in French football folklore is assured.

Didier Deschamps lifts the World Cup after France beat Brazil 3-0 in the 1998 final, with teammates Marcel Desailly (left) and Laurent Blanc at his side.

Deschamps had a stellar career, with stints in France, Italy, England and Spain and was considered one of the best defensive midfielders in the game.

But not everyone was impressed.

“Deschamps manages because he gives 100%, but he will never be more than a water carrier. You find players like him on every street corner,” former France teammate Eric Cantona said in an interview in September 1996.

Referring to his Champions League final wins with Marseille in 1993 and Juventus in 1996, Deschamps replied: “How many players can you find on street corners who have won the European Cup twice?”

By the time he retired in 2001, he had played in four Champions League finals (and was an unused substitute as Valencia lost in 2001), won five domestic championships (two with Marseille and three with Juventus) as well as the Coppa Italia. With Juventus and the FA Cup with Chelsea.

He earned 103 caps, captaining France after winning their first World Cup in 1998, followed up two years later by winning Euro 2000.

“Didier was my captain for all my teams and you can see he’s a natural leader,” Deschamps’ teammate, Marcel Desailly, told the BBC about the documentary How to Win a World Cup.

The story of the 1998 World Cup obsession with success and excellent man management skills

A coaching career was the obvious development, and after stints at Monaco, Juventus and Marseille, Deschamps became coach of the France national team in 2012.

After losing in the 2006 World Cup Final, 2010 was a disaster for France, who did not win. They finished bottom of their group, with the players refusing to train after a falling out between manager Raymond Domenech and striker Nicolas Anelka.

World Cup-winning defender Laurent Blanc was next in charge, but he resigned after losing in the quarter-finals to Spain at Euro 2012 – his only tournament.

“There was a lot of respect when Didier took over and we knew that with his obsession with success he would determine the right strategy for the national team,” Desailly added.

Led by Deschamps, France reached the quarter-finals of the 2014 World Cup, losing to eventual winners Germany, and reached the Euro 2016 final they hosted, before defeating Portugal 1-0.

France hosted Euro 2016 and reached the final, but lost, while Portuguese Eder scored the only goal

It was clear that France were building something special, with Deschamps’ skills shining in human and tactical management.

In their opening match at the 2018 World Cup, France defeated Australia 2-1 and Deschamps was seen telling his players that their opponents made twice as many runs and ran twice, highlighting striker Kylian Mbappe for his lack of effort. .

Midfielder Paul Pogba questioned the tactics, saying they were unsure where to attack from, and Deschamps responded: “I don’t say you, I say we and I include me. I’ll protect each and every one of you, one by one, but you have to act.” “.

“Didier finds the right words with the right person at the right time – he’s a master at it,” said former press officer Philippe Tournon.

“He knows when to take out the stick and when to take out the carrot, whether to soften the blow or to rape it on the knuckles.”

On Sunday they met Argentina in the last 16 in Russia and won 4-3 in a thriller, but Deschamps’ human management skills were put to the test again after that.

Some of the players had been out and back in the wee hours, loud and boisterous, waking up from their slumber when defender Adil Rami sprayed a fire extinguisher on them, filling the hotel corridor with steam.

Of course the smoke detectors went off, Tornon said, waking up the whole hotel. My room was next to Didier’s and I thought he was ready to tear it up.

Didier had a word, and with his sixth sense of his connection to the players and the unity of the group, he told me ‘if you put them in it might break something we’ve been building for five or six weeks’.

France then beat Uruguay and Belgium before a 4-2 victory over Croatia gave Deschamps World Cup success as a player and coach.

In the celebrations, Pogba was seen pointing at Deschamps as he shouted into the camera “He’s the star, it’s him, the star is on his head”.

Didier Deschamps: How the France coach expertly led his team to 2018 World Cup glory ‘A team stronger than people’

France went into the 2022 World Cup with questions after failing to win their four matches in June and Ballon d’Or holder Karim Benzema was injured.

The forward, Benzema, joined injured midfielders Pogba and N’Golo Kante, who both ushered in the 2018 final on the sidelines, but France have managed to cope without the trio.

Mbappe has five goals, Olivier Giroud, 36, has four and Antoine Griezmann, who plays in a deeper role, has three assists and created the most chances in the tournament.

France’s 4-2-3-1 formation allowed Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele to attack from wide positions, while Adrien Rabiot and Aurelin Choameni provided a midfield platform in the absence of Pogba and Kante.

France qualified for the round of 16 before match time, and the only difficult moments ahead of them came in the second half of the quarter-final with England, before Giroud scored a late goal.

England manager Gareth Southgate said: “Didier has built a team that is stronger than individuals, and maybe that wasn’t always the case.”

Highlights: Penalty kick with Kane resulting in England’s exit from the World Cup

The 2-0 victory over Morocco saw them enter their fourth World Cup finals in seven tournaments.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, French football journalist Julien Laurens added: “Deschamps is doing a fantastic job.

“This team is very similar to the team that won in 2018 – because it’s the same coach.

“They could play better, but Deschamps has made them a ruthless winning team. That’s all they care about. It’s all about winning.”

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