Didier Deschamps stated he would wait earlier than deciding whether or not to stay as coach of France within the wake of their World Cup closing defeat, but the future prospects stay bright for a facet brimming with younger expertise and led by Kylian Mbappe.
Deschamps hoped to lead the 2018 world champions to back-to-back titles in Qatar, they usually got here agonisingly shut, shedding the ultimate to Argentina on penalties following an exhilarating 3-3 draw after additional time.
The shoot-out defeat prevented Deschamps -– who captained Les Bleus to glory in 1998 –- from changing into the primary coach to win the World Cup twice since Vittorio Pozzo within the Nineteen Thirties.
The 54-year-old, in cost since 2012, is now out of contract but French Football Federation President Noel Le Graet had stated Deschamps can be provided new phrases if he reached the semi-finals.
Asked whether or not the results of the ultimate would affect a call on his future, Deschamps stated: “Even with a different result I would not have given an answer today.”
“Obviously I am very sad. I will have a meeting with the president at the start of the new year and you will know after that,” he added.
Once the mud has settled on a draining marketing campaign, France should flip their attentions to qualifying for Euro 2024, which begins in March in opposition to the Netherlands.
France might be anticipated to qualify with out too many issues for the event in Germany, which is simply 18 months away.
Their latest report is outstanding, with Deschamps having led them to the Euro 2016 closing after which to glory in Russia 4 years in the past. They additionally gained the Nations League final yr.
France’s marketing campaign in Qatar had appeared cursed earlier than it began with accidents depriving them of Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kante whereas Karim Benzema additionally withdrew simply earlier than the event started.
– ‘Huge pool of talent’ –
However, it has been a breakthrough marketing campaign for some younger stars, with Aurelien Tchouameni, Theo Hernandez, Jules Kounde and Ibrahima Konate all aged 25 or underneath.
Randal Kolo Muani had gained simply two caps earlier than being introduced in as a last-minute alternative for the injured Christopher Nkunku.
The Eintracht Frankfurt ahead, who comes from the identical Paris suburb as Mbappe and is simply two weeks older, ended up having a big effect.
He scored in opposition to Morocco within the semi-finals and within the closing was solely denied an unimaginable late winner in additional time by an excellent save from Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.
“Some of the young players showed they are good enough for this level. There are others who were not here but will be involved in future,” stated Deschamps, who will need to have been pondering of the 25-year-old Nkunku, the perfect participant within the Bundesliga final season with RB Leipzig.
“We always need experienced players to lead the younger ones but we have a huge pool of talent.”
Some of France’s distinguished veterans will now be contemplating their futures after what had been record-breaking World Cup campaigns.
Olivier Giroud overtook Thierry Henry as his nation’s all-time prime scorer, whereas goalkeeper Hugo Lloris surpassed Lilian Thuram to develop into France’s report cap-holder.
Both, nonetheless, might be 36 by the top of this month.
But one participant set to lead Les Bleus for years to come is the astonishing Mbappe.
He solely turns 24 on Tuesday and but has already gained one World Cup and develop into the primary participant in 60 years to rating in successive finals.
Given his age, his peak should still be to come as France eye the European Championship and, past that, the 2026 World Cup.
This World Cup has been “a passing of the baton between one generation coming to the final stage of their careers to a new generation led by Mbappe,” stated Lloris.
And Raphael Varane, certainly one of 5 French gamers who began on Sunday having additionally performed within the 2018 closing, stated defeat in Doha would make the brand new era stronger.
“It is a very young group. We have also built our successes on defeats and so this group of players will bounce back. There is enormous potential,” he stated.
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