Yamal’s achievements at such a young age have captivated the soccer world, including Deschamps, who will face him today. “Yamal is one of those extraordinary players,” the French manager reflected. The 2018 World Cup-winning coach went on to acknowledge Yamal’s exceptional talent: “Players like him only come around every once in a while. What he does game after game… and at his age!”

Deschamps didn’t hold back in expressing his admiration, drawing a parallel to none other than Mbappe with a single word: “Fuoriclasse,” an Italian term used to describe someone who is “out of the ordinary” or “exceptional” in a certain field, particularly in sports.

“Kylian was older when he was doing what Yamal is doing now at 18. They are the Fuoriclasse, as the Italians say. Exceptional players who leave their mark on soccer from a young age through their skill and play,” France‘s head coach added.

France seek European redemption

Almost a year has passed since France and Spain last clashed at the Allianz Arena in Munich during the Euro 2024 semifinals. France initially took the lead with a goal from Kolo Muani, but it was Lamine Yamal and Dani Olmo who ultimately secured the victory for Spain, paving their way to a third European title.

On Thursday, the stage is set once again, this time at Stuttgart’s Mercedes-Benz Arena, with both teams eyeing a spot in the Nations League final against Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal, who beat Germany on Wednesday.

Apart from the comparisons with Mbappe, another intriguing storyline ahead of the Nations League semifinal is the potential Ballon d’Or decider between Lamine Yamal and Ousmane Dembele Dembele. Needless to say, world soccer’s eyes will be on this exciting clash on Thursday.

L’Équipe reports unease among players regarding Deschamps’ methods. Following a tense exchange with Camavinga after a draw against Poland, where Deschamps criticized the midfielder for on-field mistakes, tensions have risen within the team.

Antoine Griezmann’s benching for the first time in eight years has sparked national debate. Deschamps reproached him during the Poland game for late reactions, highlighting dissatisfaction with substitutes’ performances compared to starters.

France players and Deschamps at odds during Euros

Criticism extends to Deschamps’ substitution strategies. In the match against the Netherlands, minimal changes were made, leaving key players without playing time, fueling dissatisfaction within the squad.

Players feel training intensity isn’t sufficient for Eurocup preparation, evident in France’s minimal goal output and lack of tactical diversity. With a divided dressing room and questionable tactics, optimism is waning for France’s tournament prospects.

Deschamps faces a crucial opportunity against Belgium in the round of 16 to redeem team morale and dispel doubts. His secretive lineup decisions and communication style, seen as distant and unempowering by players and pundits alike, reopen longstanding concerns within the French team.

In an interview with BeIn Sports, the French national team head coach revealed that the Paris Saint-Germain superstar is quite upset with the result as well. Last year, the 24-year-old almost took France to glory at Qatar 2022.

“He deserved to win it. It’s a disappointment that he came third,” Deschamps said. “After that, these are votes by journalists from all over the world. I’m not saying that Messi didn’t deserve it or that Haaland didn’t deserve it. He’s young, but with what he’s achieved, he would have deserved it. I don’t have to console him. He’s disappointed.“

Messi got the upper hand over Mbappe in the World Cup final, helping Argentina beat France on penalties after a thrilling 3-3 draw. The 36-year-old bagged a brace, while the PSG striker recorded a hat-trick.

That result seems to explain why Messi received the most votes for this year’s Ballon d’Or, given to the best player of the 2022-23 season. Erling Haaland was also a strong contender after winning the treble with Manchester City, but Messi’s World Cup seemed to weigh more than anything else.

Deschamps also complains about countries that didn’t vote for Mbappe

Apart from being upset with the fact that Mbappe didn’t win, Deschamps also called out the journalists who didn’t include the Frenchman in their top five. 180 journalists from 180 different nations choose their favorites, but for the 55-year-old it’s strange that Mbappe isn’t a unanimous pick.

“After that, the votes… These are votes that come from all over the place. I was surprised, to say the least, and even a little more surprised by some people’s votes,” Deschamps said. “Not putting Mbappe in the top five is really… I’m not going to use the word dishonesty, but it’s not far off all the same.”

Only eight countries didn’t vote for Mbappe at the 2023 Ballon d’Or: Algeria, Bosnia, Denmark, Equatorial Guinea, Lebanon, Panama, Norway, and Switzerland. Meanwhile, four nations picked Mbappe as their first choice: Cameroon, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, and Ecuador.

Messi believes Mbappe will be a Ballon d’Or favorite from now on

In his Ballon d’Or acceptance speech, Messi suggested he doesn’t see himself winning the award for a ninth occasion. Instead, he expects younger stars to take over, with Mbappe and Haaland leading the race from now on.

“It’s going to be a nice fight between the two of them and between several other younger players around here. They both deserved it this year,” Leo said. Argentine goalkeeper Emiliano ‘Dibu’ Martinez has also backed Mbappe to win many Ballon d’Ors in the future, when Messi and Ronaldo are no longer active.

For example, the coach of the French national team, Didier Deschamps. “The Argentinians say it. He’s a part of it. It’s hard to say that Messi is better than Cristiano Ronaldo or Mbappe, who is younger. They are players who have left their mark on the history of world football.”

Of course, Deschamps wasn’t going to show absolute favoritism for Messi, considering that he leads the French team and Kylian Mbappe is one of his star players.

Furthermore, the defeat in the World Cup final is a thorn that remains stuck in that country, and as a result, Messi was insulted on several occasions by fans at PSG.

Didier Deschamps talks about Lionel Messi and the Ballon d’Or

Didier Deschamps was also questioned about who he believes should have won the Ballon d’Or between Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland. His response didn’t reveal much amidst the controversy that has arisen in recent days.

“Argentinians are behind Messi. It’s normal. The French are behind Mbappe. All three are players who deserve to win. In the end, only one takes home the prize because they have won the most important competition in the world. Unfortunately for France, that’s how it is.”

Deschamps dedicates a special message to Lionel Messi

Despite his team’s defeat to Argentina in the final of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Didier Deschamps acknowledged that Lionel Messi is simply a legendary player.

“Messi has made history in football. The season he had with PSG and, above all, with Argentina in the World Cup undoubtedly makes him deserving of the Ballon d’Or.”

How many times Lionel Messi won the Ballon d’Or?

Last Monday, Lionel Messi won his eighth Ballon d’Or. The star of Inter Miami became the first winner of the award created who does not play in Europe. At the age of 36, the legend secured the trophy thanks to his tremendous contribution to Argentina’s victory in the Qatar 2022 World Cup.

In an unforgettable moment during the ceremony held in Paris, Leo received the award from David Beckham, the owner of his current club. Of course, the big question is who will be his heir in 2024.

Now, just a few months after the World Cup, France are living full of scandals. First, Didier Deschamps against Zinedine Zidane for the coaching job. After that, Deschamps blaming Karim Benzema for all the controversy about his injury inQatar. Finally, a sudden change in the National Team’s captaincy.

Kylian Mbappe was appointed as new captain of France, but, according to many reports, that didn’t suit well for veteran players in the national team such as Antoine Griezmann. Now, Mbappe finally talked about the situation.

Kylian Mbappe explains why Didier Deschamps named him captain of France

Kylian Mbappe is only 24-years old, but he has already been named captain of France over other veterans in the national team such as Antoine Griezmann. The star of PSG explained the reasons why.

“Didier Deschamps wants me to be a unifier and told me that I was the link between the new generation and the old one. I spoke with Antoine (Griezmann). I told him that I would have had the same reaction. He is perhaps the most important player of the Deschamps era.”

Furthermore, Kylian Mbappe admitted that he would respect at any cost Antoine Griezmann’s hierarchy on the team.”I am not his superior. If he has something to say in front of the group, I sit down and listen.When the coach comes to see you, your mouth says yes right away. I didn’t think I was going to be captain until Monday.”

Didier Deschamps also shared his thoughts on the situation between Mbappe and Griezmann.”Being captain is a responsibility, but Kylian, when he is on the pitch, he thinks about what he should do on the pitch. It comes naturally. There is no advice to give him, Kylian knows.I can assure you that Antoine, since Monday, is smiling. That he was disappointed at the time, it is legitimate. But it stopped there. He is vice-captain. He has an important role as he always had.”

That way, France lost an amazing chance to be World Cup immortals. They could have become just the third team ever to win back-to-back titles.Italydid it in 1934 and 1938,Brazilachieved the feat in 1958 and 1962. That’s why the loss to Argentina still hurts.

Almost three months after the World Cup final, a new controversy has arrived between France and Argentina. Following many exchanges of words between players, now Didier Deschamps decided to speak. Read here to find out the details.

Didier Deschamps slams Argentina after World Cup final

Though the World Cup final was played in December, Didier Deschamps decided to talk about it months later during an interview with Le Figaro. The coach of France went all-in and severely criticized Argentina for the way they celebrated.

“Congratulations to them. They’re World Champions. However, there were unacceptable things and attitudes. I don’t have a problem with them jumping or being happy, but the notion of respect never existed. Nobody deserves that and least of allKylian (Mbappe). Some of those situations just went too far.”

Furthermore, even in defeat, Didier Deschamps doesn’t regret a thing about France’s perfomance in the final. “Though I know we lost, that’s the way things are. We have to accept that. I’ve seen that final many times. The stage, the emotional implications, the context being there with the absence of so many important players. Even with that, I liked the image of the French team. This group had real force even with a negative context created by the media and the famous curse of World Champions. I always trusted in the group. It just wasn’t enough.”

Karim Benzema was supposed to be one of the stars of the tournament, as the current Ballon d’Or winner, but, an injury just days before the debut left him out of the World Cup. Though he made an effort to returnin time, the official version by France was that Benzema wasn’t available.

Now, in an incredible turn of events, Didier Deschamps decided to reveal in an interview why Karim Benzema didn’t have a chance of coming back with France for the knockout stages of the World Cup. When Benzema found out, a new massive scandal exploded.

Didier Deschamps explains what happened with Karim Benzema in theWorld Cup

In an interview with Le Parisien, Didier Deschamps explained why Karim Benzema couldn’t make it back with France even after his recovery process supposedly went well.Benzema was ruled out of theWorld Cupafter suffering aninjury on his left thigh just before the tournament.

“Karim was hurtbecause this Coupe du Monde (World Cup)meant a lot to him. He told me: ‘It’s dead’.The diagnosis of our doctor was the same as that of Madrid. He could not resume until December 10.During the night, after his withdrawal, I told Karim: ‘There is no rush, organize your return with your team manager’.When I wake up, I learn that he is gone. It’s his decision, he won’t tell you otherwise.I understand and respect it.”

So, when Karim Benzema found out all the details in the interview, he just exploded on social media. First, Benzema posted those quotes in an Instagram story and accompanied them with a clown emoticon and this phrase: “But what audacity.”

Then, in a second Instagram story, Karim Benzema wrote: “Holy Didier. Good night”. That came with another clown emoticon and a video of a famous French Snapchat artist called Ritchie repeating this phrase: “Liar. You’re a liar.”

Benzema was banned from the French national team for six years after being accused of blackmailing former teammate Mathieu Valbuena. He did not rejoin Les Blues until 2021. The reigning Ballon d’Or winner has been plagued by injuries this season, though.

The 35-year-old striker tried in vain to get back into playing shape for Real Madrid in the month leading up to the World Cup, but he was limited to only one substitute appearance. Despite starting 15 of Madrid’s 25 La Liga games this season, he wassidelined for Saturday’s match against Espanyol due to an ankle injury.

What didDidier Deschamps say of Karim Benzema’s World Cup exclusion?

When being interviewed by Le Parisien on Friday, Didier Deschamps was asked whether a definitive judgment on Benzema’s fitness had been made too quickly.“It’s an insult to us to say that.In every situation, there’s only one truth and Karim knows that. He joined up with us on 14 November, after a period of semi-inactivity at his club. He followed an individual training programme; his return to group training was postponed. As was also the case with Raphael [Varane],I was not only focused on having him back for the opening match against Australia.

“When Karim got injured, our doctor took him to the Aspetar clinic for a scan.Karim forwarded the results to someone in Madrid, who also gave him an opinion. When he got back to the hotel, it was already after midnight. I joined Karim in his room with our doctor, who had come to report back on the scan. Karim was upset, because this World Cup meant a lot to him.

“He said to me: ‘It’s dead’.Our doctor’s diagnosis matched the one he got from Madrid. In the best-case scenario, he wouldn’t return to training until 10 December [the day France faced England in the quarter-finals]. When I left him, I said to him: ‘Karim, there’s no rush. You sort out your return [from Qatar] with the team manager.’When I woke up, I found out that he had left. It’s his decision, I understand and respect it”.

How did Karim Benzema react toDidier Deschamps’s interview?

Karim Benzema has now fired out at Didier Deschamps, calling the France coach a ‘liar’and a ‘clown’in response to the latter’s assertions.The Ballon d’Or winner strongly disagreed with the comments and shared a screenshot of them on Instagram, captioning them ‘but what audacity’with a clown emoji.

Furthermore, he uploaded a video of a well-known French influencer who repeatedly says ‘liar, you are a liar’addressing Les Bleus’ manager with the text ‘ThatDidier. Goodnight’.The abruptness with which Benzema left Qatar fueled rumors of tension between him and the team and coach Deschamps.

In fact, that’s why it continues to be a talking point. Many things have been said about the national team managers and captains’ choices, with the likes of David Alaba facing backlash for voting Lionel Messi ahead of Real Madrid teammate Karim Benzema.

But he wasn’t the only one who voted without being biased. Didier Deschamps was in contention for The Best Coach award and yet he was snubbed by a fellow countryman who played in the last World Cup.

Hugo Lloris didn’t vote for Didier Deschamps as The Best Coach in 2022

Even though he played in two consecutive World Cup finals under Deschamps’ tenure (winning the 2018 edition), Hugo Lloris didn’t vote for the French manager as his first choice to The Best Coach award.

The veteran goalkeeper, who retired from international soccer after the Qatar 2022 final loss to Argentina, instead voted for Moroccocoach Walid Regragui. In second place Lloris selectedLionel Scaloni (who eventually won the award), leaving Deschamps in third place.

Hugo Lloris’ votes for The Best Coach in 2022

1. Walid Regragui (Morocco)
2. Lionel Scaloni (Argentina)
3. Didier Deschamps (France)

France was at the center of attention even before the beginning of the tournament. The injury that left Karim Benzema out of the team ended up being just the first of many key players. It could have made an impact in their performances, but even without them they were really close.

Their journey took them all the way to the final again. In Russia 2018 they defeated Croatia in that game, although they weren’t able to do it this time. The hat-trick scored by Kylian Mbappe wasn’t enough since they lost in the penalty shootout after a thrilling 3-3 tie.

The 2023 schedule of France national soccer team

There was some speculation about Didier Deschamps continuity at the helm. His journey there has been astonishing as it was as a player. He not only led the team to a World Cup title in Russia, but also added finals in Qatar and at the Euro hosted by France in 2016.

Deschamps decided to stay in the position to keep the national team among the best in the world. They will not be able to defend the UEFA Nations League crown they won in Italy in 2021, although there will be enough games.

The path to the next Euro to be played in Germany is what the nations in the continent have next. All their matchups will be for the qualifiers in a five-team group. They will be sharing that with the Netherlands, Gibraltar, Ireland, and Greece.

France national soccer team schedule: List of games in 2023

March 24: France vs Netherlands, Euro qualifiers
March 27: Ireland vs France, Euro qualifiers
June 16: Gibraltar vs France, Euro qualifiers
June 19: France vs Greece, Euro qualifiers
September 7: France vs Ireland, Euro qualifiers
October 13: Netherlands vs France, Euro qualifiers
November 18: France vs Gibraltar, Euro qualifiers
November 21: Greece vs France, Euro qualifiers

France won Group D and in the knockoutstages eliminated Poland, England and Morocco. Then, in one of the greatest matches in soccer history, they lost the final in thrilling penalty shoot-out against Argentina. Though France couldn’t hoist the trophy, thousands of fans at home applauded their performance led by a superb Kylian Mbappé.

However, the French Federation wasn’t sure who will be the coach for the 2024 Euro and the 2026 World Cup. Now, the decision has been made for one of the favorite teams to win a thrid title in Mexico, Canada and the United States. Read here to find out the name of France’s leader for the future.

Zidane or Deschamps: Who will be the next coach of France?

During the last weeks, after the Qatar 2022 World Cup, Zinedine Zidane started to sound as a strong candidate to finally take the National Team. Zidane won it all with Real Madrid at the club level and seemed like a perfect choice for the Bleus.

Nevertheless, according to many reports, Didier Deschamps’ extension was guaranteed at least until the 2024 Euro when France reached the semifinals at Qatar 2022. Still, the uncertainty was if he would stay for the 2026 World Cup. Now, the mystery has been solved.

Didier Deshcamps has extended his contract to be the coach of France until July of 2026. That means he will be in charge of the team in the 2024 Euro at Germany and the 2026 World Cup at Mexico, Canada and the United States. Deschamps is the longest-serving coach ever for the National Team and, with this deal, his tenure could last fourteen years.

Didier Deschamps took the job on July 9of 2012. His numbers are amazing. 89 wins, 28 ties and 22 defeats in 139 matches. He won the 2018 World Cup and reached the final at Qatar 2022. He is one of only three men who have been World Champions as players and coaches (Mario Zagallo and Franz Beckebauer).