Pressure? Didier Deschamps knows all about being drenched in it. He was chastised for France’s failures to qualify for Italia ’90 and USA ’94, ridiculed as a "water carrier” by Eric Cantona. To turn hot water scorching, Deschamps was flung to the forefront of a doomed Bleu brigade, made captain for their hosting of the FIFA World Cup in 1998. France languished 18th on the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking and opinion polls had them en route to supplanting the national nadir: that 2-1 loss to Bulgaria in Pais in 1993. Yet in that same city, thanks to the seamanship of their No7, Aime Jacquet’s boys sailed to their zenith. Deschamps soon swapped boots for suits. He rapidly discovered that being a world-champion player didn’t exempt him from stricture at the coaching controls. He was pummelled when France went four games without scoring a goal, a 0-0 draw with Georgia realistically extinguishing their hope of automatic qualification for Brazil 2014. The clamour for his head blew from a storm to a tsunami when they lost 2-0 to Ukraine in the first leg of their play-off for a place at the tournament. But the boy from Bayonne was a self-proclaimed "survivor”. Deschamps masterminded the French fightback that got them to South America, then guided them to the quarter-finals of that competition, the UEFA EURO 2016 final and a second global crown at Russia 2018.
So if you think one win in their last six games, including home losses to Denmark and Croatia, pesters him, think again. While Deschamps admits to FIFA conquering Qatar will be a "massive challenge”, he insists France can do just that. In this wide-ranging interview, he also reveals his pride at sharing a distinction with Mario Zagallo and Franz Beckenbauer, and lauds Karim Benzema and Kylian Mbappe.
France 1998. Can you tell us what it felt like to win the competition as a player?
It’s difficult to put the atmosphere, joy and madness of those moments into words. The fact the tournament was held in France clearly intensified all of those emotions. It was our nation’s first World Cup triumph and you got the feeling that every French citizen became a world champion with us. They were amazing days, we shared lots of emotions and there was a great deal of pride.
Do you draw on your experience from 1998 with the members of your current squad?
Of course, the experiences in my previous life as a player have helped me in my role as a club coach and now in my 10 years as France coach. I’ve always made use of all the experiences I had as a player. The fact that I’ve experienced or found myself in situations that may be similar to those my players currently face is an important factor in the conversations I have with them. When we win, things haven’t changed one bit and you still get that same sense of unity. I had the pleasure of experiencing that with my players in 2018.
France have had some disappointing results over the last few months, with just one win in your last six. Are you concerned by that run of form?
We’re the defending world champions. When you’re at the very top, it’s difficult to do any better. The other national teams also work hard and are making strides. It’s perfectly normal for a team to go on slightly less successful runs, but France remains a really competitive force and are among the top teams in Europe and the world. Ahead of a major competition like the World Cup, there’ll always be seven or eight teams that are in with a chance of lifting the trophy.
Talking of contenders, which teams do you think are capable of winning Qatar 2022?
Without wanting to offend anyone, you’ve always got your usual suspects: the two South American nations in Brazil and Argentina, and then five or six European teams, the likes of England, Spain, Belgium, Germany and Croatia. They’re teams that have that pedigree, experience and have proven themselves to be really competitive in recent tournaments.
You’ll come up against Australia, Denmark and Tunisia in the group stage. Can you offer us your thoughts on your opponents?
We know that Denmark will provide stern opposition. They’re a very strong side and are most likely underrated. They’re not a team people tend to talk about all that much, but they possess individual quality and are a strong unit. Their performance at the latest EURO and position on the World Ranking tells you all you need to know. On paper, they definitely provide the biggest threat. That said, I don’t want to go underestimating Australia, who managed to knock Peru out in the qualifying play-off. We know a bit more about Tunisia because many of their players play their club football here in France. We’re aware that none of the games will be easy. It’s the toughest competition in the world and we’ll have to make sure we perform better than all of our opponents.
You’re once again able to call on the services of Kylian Mbappe. What are your thoughts on him?
He’s one of those extraordinary players – the sort that only come along every so often. It’s a pleasure to have him in the squad and we’re fortunate he’s French. He was influential in our first triumph in Russia and knowing him and just how competitive he is, he’ll certainly be keen to take centre stage at the World Cup in Qatar. In terms of his statistics, from a very young age, he’s been capable of doing extraordinary things. Besides his on-field talents, which everyone recognises, on a human level he’s a very steady and sensible character. He’s got plenty of good years ahead of him in the game.
As well as Mbappe, you’ll be able to call on Karim Benzema. Can you tell us exactly what he brings to the group?
Karim is one of the best forwards in world football and is extremely clinical. He also plays a very important role in the team’s build-up play and is heavily involved in the attacking phase, and that’s good news for us. As the years tick by, this World Cup will be a very important tournament for him. Although we shouldn’t rule anything out, this could well turn out to be his last World Cup. Off the pitch, he’s a friendly guy who’s willing to share his vast experience with the young players, but he’s not someone who looks to steal the limelight or be the leader, he instead leads by example out on the pitch.
Despite being able to call on a number of outstanding goalscorers, whose presence could tempt you to go all out in attack, we’re aware that you look to strike a balance within your side.
How would you describe your footballing philosophy?
My philosophy? I’m not that keen on the word ‘philosophy’ being used in football. I believe that it’s a term that’s suited to other areas of life rather than sport. I always look to achieve the same thing: for my team to cause the opposition as many problems as possible. Every tactical system is perfectly valid. I haven’t got a clearly defined system. It all depends on the players at my disposal and how you set up, which is the most important element. I’m not one to go changing the system every game depending on the opposition. Regardless of the system, my aim is to play each of my players in their best position. I don’t always manage it 100 per cent, but I try to make sure it’s the case for most of them, to ensure that we’re as balanced as possible.
Alongside Franz Beckenbauer, you’re the only person to have lifted the World Cup as both captain and coach. How does that make you feel?
That I’m in a privileged position. We should add Mario Zagallo, who also won the World Cup as a player and coach, even though he didn’t captain that Brazil side. I’m proud to be one of just three people in the whole world. When you’re a player, you’re directly involved and you experience it all to the max. In my second life, as a coach, I experience victory more through my players. I’m in pretty good company alongside Franz and Zagallo. Although we’re of different ages, having that in common with them is fine by me! (smiles)
In terms of records, you could end up equalling the one achieved by Vittorio Pozzo in 1938, when he guided Italy to back-to-back World Cup triumphs. What would it mean to you to match that record?
It’d be amazing, but I’m not about to start dreaming of that at this stage. Alongside all of my staff, I’ll be giving my utmost to rise to the massive challenge that lies ahead. I wasn’t even born at the time you’re referring to. Based on statistics from recent years, we can see that the defending World Cup winners tend to suffer a bit of a hangover, but records are there to be broken. The World Cup is the absolute pinnacle. Winning it once is tough enough, but it’s even tougher to stay at the top, though that’s exactly what we’ll be looking to do.
If you had to single out one moment from the three World Cups as a player and coach, which would it be?
There are two moments I can’t choose between: 1998 and 2018. Although we performed well in 2014, we actually won the tournament in 1998 and 2018. We twice managed to place French football and France at the summit for a four-year period. I’ve said it before and will say it again: the World Cup is the absolute pinnacle. No matter which competition you go and win with your club side, the World Cup is still on another level. It’s a global event.
You’ve now occupied the Les Bleus’ dugout for 10 years. What’s it like to be national-team coach?
I really enjoy it and it gives me a sense of fulfilment. It’s not often that the France coach stays in the job for 10 years. I treat every single day as an honour and am proud to be France coach. I’ve got a really strong connection with this shirt. On a professional level, it’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me. In my previous life, as a player, I represented the national team for just over 10 years and have now been the coach for 10 years. I feel great pride and a sense of duty in terms of what this shirt represents to the people of France and the young generations. We’re very much in the spotlight and we enjoy a really high level of public support. That connection is vital for me. This shirt belongs to everyone, to every French citizen.