A unique place in history awaits Didier Deschamps in Qatar.
The France coach is aiming to join Italy's Vittorio Pozzi as only the second coach in history to win the World Cup twice. Deschamps enjoyed a decorated playing career, winning the Champions League with Marseille and Juventus, as well as the World Cup and European Championships with France.
The 54-year-old has enjoyed an equally-distinguished coaching career in his 10-year spell with France and can take a step closer to fresh glory by beating England in the World Cup quarter-final. In the build-up to Saturday’s clash, one word has repeatedly been used by France’s players to describe the mood in the camp: serene.
Those who play and work for Deschamps point to the sense of calm he brings to the France set-up, enabling players to produce their best and emboldening them by making them feel vital to the cause. Deschamps has fostered unity and comradeship within the squad, which before his tenure was beset by in-fighting, fragile egos and putting personal agendas above those of the collective.
After beating Poland 3-1 in the last 16, France’s coaching staff formed a guard of honour, clapping the the team off the pitch - the move symbolic of the strength of their mutual respect and solidarity. France playmaker Antoine Griezmann underlined the bond with the players and staff, praising the way Deschamps has managed to create such a positive environment for the squad to flourish.
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FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images)“Our coach believes in us being a group, being a team,” said Griezmann. “It’s up to us to have that mentality off and on the pitch. We’re on the right path. We’re a group that lives well together. I see it in training, too. Everyone gives 100 per cent and we have the perfect set-up to take us as far as possible.
“I’ve known difficult moments at Barcelona and even back at Atletico [Madrid], it was complicated at first. Now, I’m fully confident with my club and the French national team. I like to be needed.”
France defender Jules Kounde echoed Griezmann, saying: “We’ve spent more time with each other, we have more experience and played more games together. It's how you build a group. The spirit is really good and the mix of generations is going well.”
As a player, Deschamps was disparaged as a “water carrier” by former France team-mate Eric Cantona, fostering the notion of him as a player of limited capabilities and significance.
That crude description did not do justice to the important role Deschamps played for his clubs, but there can be no doubting his pedigree as an international manager. His contract is up at the end of this year, with Zinedine Zidane his likely successor, although French Football Federation President Noel Le Graet wants Deschamps to carry on - even if they lose to England.
“When you're lucky enough to have Didier Deschamps, you don't knock next door, as long as you're in the same place,” said Le Graet. “I'll be honest, my wish is that Didier stays. Who do you want to find who is better? It's up to him to decide whether to stay or not. It’s an exposed position, under a lot of pressure. But he’s made for this role and I think he prefers the national team to a club.”
Deschamps cut a relaxed figure on the eve of the encounter with England, joking with French journalists and exuding calmness ahead of such a high-pressure match. “The players are calm and that’s been the case since the beginning of the tournament,” said Deschamps. “You have to focus on each match as it comes and now we’re in the quarter-finals, there’s no point in getting too stressed - you have to enjoy it.”