Deschamps - failure or success in the World Cup 2022?

The 54-year-old leader was very calm when the number one star Kylian Mbappe disagreed over image rights with the French Football Federation (FFF) and boycotted promotional photo sessions with the team. He then ignored the rumors that Paul Pogba had hired a sorcerer to cast a spell on teammate Mbappe. When FFF President Noel Le Graet was accused of sexual harassment, Deschamps remained silent.

In addition to all kinds of scandals and controversies in the weeks leading up to the World Cup, Deschamps also received bad news about the profession when N'Golo Kante, Pogba, Karim Benzema, Christopher Nkuku respectively missed the tournament due to injury, and Lucas. Hernandez ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in the opening match against Australia. At that time, many people joked that Deschamps was about to have to put on his shoes because France was full. "It's true that the atmosphere is not peaceful and quiet," he told The Athletic a few days before the 2022 World Cup. "But all is well."

And in fact, France has overcome the curse of the defending champions being eliminated from the group stage, thanks to a philosophy called "Deschamps-ism". "Deschamps may not endorse the phrase bearing his name, but it has become the identity of France at the 2022 World Cup," commented the Indian Express, adding that the French team participating in this tournament has dropped the thing. Freestyle, liberal football to become a tough, pragmatic, high team spirit, even conservative but still capable of creating individual brilliant moments. All of them carry the silhouette of Deschamps.

And that is one of the strong points of France. Deschamps removed the negativity that surrounded the team, and made sure the players arrived in the Gulf without experiencing the toxicity that had brought them down in previous tournaments, especially 2010. Back then, Nicolas Anelka was sent home for insulting coach Raymond Domenech, and Patrick Evra - in the role of captain of the French team, was accused of being the leader of the rebellion, leading to the team dropping out of practice.

In the midst of a team with too many big egos, Deschamps always tries to bring harmony and stability in the dressing room, even when 11 names come out as destined. It was also part of the reason he eliminated Benzema when he was injured. Deschamps does not want to keep a star, who does not know when he can play again, becoming the focus of media attention in the team.

Shooting the key player means that the people who were once considered "double" suddenly have to play the main role, whether they're satisfied or not. Four years ago, Adrien Rabiot refused to be the World Cup player. This time, you took Pogba's place at the quarterback. According to Hernandez was also pushed into the spotlight after Lucas suffered heavy injuries. Jules Kounde, has a mid-defense facility, but brightly lit as a quarterback, and Griezmann- a knack is for shoplifting hunt- accepts, kicking deep as a security detail and becoming the best man in this position. Without imagination and courage to perform the necessary adjustments when the team goes down to 50%Deschamps will not be able to take Les Bleus to the final match.

Coach Walid Regragui admitted Morocco fell into the French trap in the semi-finals. "Having so many balls was not our plan," Regragui said after the game, referring to Morocco's 61 percent possession. "I told the players before the game 'they'll give us the ball and we have to give it to them'. In the end, we were fooled."

In history, Deschamps is only the fourth coach to lead a team to two consecutive World Cup finals, after Vittorio Pozzo with Italy in 1934 and 1938, Carlos Bilardo with Argentina 1986, 1990 and Franz Beckenbauer with Germany 1986, 1990 Even so, he is rarely appreciated. In France, people always wonder if Deschamps is a great man or just a man in the right place at the right time? Perhaps both.

One of Deschamps' most trusted bodyguards in France over the past decade, captain Hugo Lloris offered an inside look. "He has great experience as a player as well as a coach at international level," he said. "Deschamps is calm, composed and conveys that to the players. He is an inspiration to us. France has a great relationship between the players and the coaching staff, and it is no coincidence that he is. He has been the coach of the national team for such a long time."

Deschamps did not lead or revolutionize the coaching bench. There is no lineup, no specific style of play or tactical system that fans will remember. Instead, he aimed for understanding, discipline, and adaptability. Those are the same qualities that helped Deschamps assert himself in the midfield during his playing days, even though there were many more glamorous and glamorous stars at the same time.

Just like at that time, when benefiting a lot from the best players like Zinedine Zidane and Thierry Henry, France in the past few years has also relied a lot on the talent of Kylian Mbappe or Antoine Griezmann. But as a coach, Deschamps still needs some skills to navigate these stars. On the way to winning the Gold Cup in Russia, Griezmann was arranged to kick number 10 with Mbappe coming in from the right. France won the UEFA Nations League 2021 with Griezmann kicking right behind the pair of strikers Mbappe and Benzema. In Qatar, Mbappe sticks to the left side, while Griezmann plays in an attacking midfielder.

"I don't like to compare teams," replied Deschamps, when asked about France's team in the last two World Cups. "Of course there are similarities, with some players playing in both competitions, and some have changed. If we get to the final twice in a row, then we did the right thing. We showed quality. , great defensive ability, scoring goals, and when it was difficult, we went through with teamwork."

The 54-year-old coach further explained: "To win, you need a combination of things. You can't get far without good players, and of course you need world-class players. But that's it. It's not enough. You also need a lot of other factors, like teamwork. Plus, matches are decided in very small details, so maybe you need a little bit of luck."

At the Lusail Stadium on December 18, the only thing Deschamps' men lacked to become the first team to successfully defend the World Cup title after Brazil (1958 and 1962) was perhaps just "a bit of luck" - like he said.

France had a bad start that day, being led by two goals after only 36 minutes by Argentina. But Deschamps' quickness and determination - shown by the withdrawal of two pillars Olivier Giroud and Ousmane Dembele to make room for two players with less international experience, Marcus Thuram (25 years old) and Randal Kolo Muani (24) from 41 minutes - helped them turn the tide.

The speed and power of the new duo entering the field sometimes made Argentina suffocate. It was Muani who brought the penalty, and Thuram gave an assist for his star teammate Kylian Mbappe to score a brace in 97 seconds, equalizing 2-2 in the 81st minute. When the score was 3-3 at the end of extra time. second, Muani even has the opportunity to become a hero of France when facing goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez in an empty position. However, the 24-year-old striker's shot was saved by Martinez with his foot, and then France fell in the penalty shootout.

There are still regrets about failing in this way, but the reaction after the 2022 World Cup shows that Deschamps, with his talent and philosophy - still has absolute credit. FFF president Le Graet can't wait for Deschamps to sign the contract. Even French President Emmanuel Macron publicly called on the military leader to continue his work.

And most of all, when Deschamps and his students returned to Paris, more than 50,000 French fans came to the Concorde square to welcome the team, sing the names of coaches and players and honor them as heroes.