Boston [Massachusetts], June 30: France coach Didier Deschamps has rejoined his team at the World Cup after the funeral of his mother and made a passionate speech to his players ahead their first knock-out match against Sweden on Tuesday.
"The first competition is finished. But there is a second. For those of you who have already played in a World Cup, that's where everything changes," Deschamps told the squad in a video published on the team's Instagram account on Sunday.
"It's the same competition but it's another competition. Every game can be your last after every match." Led by captain Kylian Mbappe and other stars, Les Bleus won all their three group matches and are top contenders for the title.
Deschamps, 57, missed the last group match against Norway on Friday because of the death of his mother.
The team won 4-1 under assistant coach Guy Stephan and are also big favourites against Sweden before possibly facing Germany in the last 16.
The tournament is the last for Deschamps, who will step down after 14 years in charge, with Zinedine Zidane expected to follow.
He led the team to the 2018 title and into the final in 2022, which they lost on penalties against Argentina.
The two could meet again in the July 19 final in New Jersey and a third title overall would be the ultimate farewell for Deschamps, who had captained the team to the first trophy in 1998.
Deschamps said aiming for the title was like mountain climbing as the challenges increase the closer one gets to the summit.
"You already have the confidence and achieved great things. There are still things we can improve, of course. We have to build on that, from that confidence, without becoming overconfident," he said.
Source: Qatar Tribune
