Didier Deschamps was a huge part of France's national team in 1998, which meant that he had a lot to do with them winning their first ever World Cup championship. As the captain, he was the first member of the team to hoist the World Cup championship trophy, and that was one of the most iconic images from that title run.
Now, he hopes to play a large part for what he and all of France hopes is the second time that l'Equipe the France get to hoist the championship trophy, in what will be their third ever final. They had never qualified for the World Cup final prior to 1998, but since then, they have made it for a third time, which is more than any other nation during that time, including Brazil and Germany, both of whom have made it twice each to the final match.
This is a golden opportunity for Deschamps, as well. With a win, he would enter into very elite company as the third man to have ever won the World Cup as a player and as a coach. Brazil's Mario Zagallo won as a player in 1958, and as a coach in 1970, and Germany's Franz Beckenbauer also accomplished the feat by winning the 1974 World Cup as a player, then hoisting the trophy again in 1990 as a coach.
France are favored for the upcoming final, but there are some obstacles that France needs to overcome if they hope to hoist the golden trophy at the end of the contest. After all, Croatia is clearly no pushover. Also, weighing on the minds of most of these French players, was the defeat that they suffered to Portugal in the Euro final two years ago.
Sure, qualifying for the final match itself was quite an accomplishment. France had an awesome tournament, and they also finally overcame the Germans, who have traditionally haunted the French side.
Not this time, however. France defeated Germany by the same 2-0 margin that Germany had knocked off France just two years earlier in the Brazilian World Cup. Naturally, after France pulled that win off, they were considered the favorite to beat Portugal in the final.
They did not win, however. And Deschamps remembers only too well:
"Yes, we are in another final -- two years ago, I remember what happened two years ago," the coach said after Tuesday's victory.
"We will go into this final to win it, as we have still not gotten over the [Euro] final.
"They are young, but there is character, and mentality -- it was tough for them against this Belgium side. This game belonged to the players.
"We didn't win the Euros final, so that's why it's close to my heart now to reach this level at the World Cup," he said. "I hope it's going to be different this time, I hope we will able to bring the World Cup back to France."
Portugal was particularly tough defensively, and France's explosive offense was never able to snap the funk that they were in largely because of Portugal's defense. For the first time in recent memory, France was defeated in a major tournament that they were hosting, and it came at the worst possible time, in the most important game: the final.
That memory has lingered for France ever since. And it weighs on Deschamps, who knows that it was a missed opportunity.
This is a golden opportunity for Deschamps, as well. With a win, he would enter into very elite company as the third man to have ever won the World Cup as a player and as a coach. Brazil's Mario Zagallo won as a player in 1958, and as a coach in 1970, and Germany's Franz Beckenbauer also accomplished the feat by winning the 1974 World Cup as a player, then hoisting the trophy again in 1990 as a coach.
Sure, qualifying for the final match itself was quite an accomplishment. France had an awesome tournament, and they also finally overcame the Germans, who have traditionally haunted the French side.
Not this time, however. France defeated Germany by the same 2-0 margin that Germany had knocked off France just two years earlier in the Brazilian World Cup. Naturally, after France pulled that win off, they were considered the favorite to beat Portugal in the final.
They did not win, however. And Deschamps remembers only too well:
"Yes, we are in another final -- two years ago, I remember what happened two years ago," the coach said after Tuesday's victory.
"We will go into this final to win it, as we have still not gotten over the [Euro] final.
"They are young, but there is character, and mentality -- it was tough for them against this Belgium side. This game belonged to the players.
"We didn't win the Euros final, so that's why it's close to my heart now to reach this level at the World Cup," he said. "I hope it's going to be different this time, I hope we will able to bring the World Cup back to France."
Portugal was particularly tough defensively, and France's explosive offense was never able to snap the funk that they were in largely because of Portugal's defense. For the first time in recent memory, France was defeated in a major tournament that they were hosting, and it came at the worst possible time, in the most important game: the final.
That memory has lingered for France ever since. And it weighs on Deschamps, who knows that it was a missed opportunity.
Deschamps believes that the French side is still burdened by the weight of that loss two years ago. To be so close, and then not to get it done. To see another team in another uniform celebrating on their own home field, before all of the French fans, who had been expecting a monumental French victory, and instead had to witness their beloved team's first defeat.
Indeed, Deschamps remembers how crushing that loss was, and he has vigilantly tried to prepare his team to deal with the weaknesses exposed by Portugal on that day. They have worked hard to get to the point where they are at now, having reached a World Cup final for only the third time in France's history. A win would go a long way towards helping erase the memories of that loss in the Euro final, and Deschamps has his team on the verge of doing exactly that.
Didier Deschamps: France still not over loss in Euro 2016 final
http://www.espn.com/soccer/france/story/3562120/didier-deschamps-france-still-not-over-loss-in-euro-2016-final
Perhaps that loss to Portugal two years ago, combined with Les Bleus' struggles in the first round of this tournament, are actually a blessing in disguise. By which I mean, I doubt that anyone on the team will render himself guilty of overconfidence, and in the unlikely event that I'm wrong about that, I think Deschamps would have an immediate talking-to with that player. Croatia is a formidable opponent – which goes without saying seeing as mediocre teams lacking talent or a solid work ethic don't qualify for major finals – but I believe France is up to the challenge.
ReplyDeleteHopefully, they use that for added focus and determination, and it helps put them over the top in this final. Like you, I believe that France will be up to the challenge.
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