France head coach Didier Deschamps is bidding to create some personal history at Euro 2024.
France head coach Didier Deschamps will be bidding to create some personal history at this summer’s European Championship.
The Blues, alongside England, are regarded as the favourites to win the competition, and they will be going in search of their first European Championship crown since 2000.
Should the country triumph at Euro 2024, Deschamps would become the first man to win the World Cup and the European Championship as both a player and a coach.
Indeed, the 55-year-old led France to the 2018 World Cup, while he won the competition as a player in 1998.
Deschamps also helped his country win Euro 2020, so there is some personal history on offer for the ex-midfielder this summer, but he has insisted that it is “not a motivation”.
© Reuters
France are bidding to win their third European Championship
“No, that’s not a motivation. The objective is around the French national team in terms of what we’ve achieved and what we’re capable of achieving,” he told UEFA’s official website.
“There are other nations who start out aiming to win, as is the case in competitions like the Champions League. Each year seven or eight teams have the objective to win it, and only one team can. It’s the same here and it doesn’t come down to much.”
Deschamps also discussed how he has changed as a manager over the years, having been in charge of France since 2012, with 152 matches taking place under his leadership.
“With experience, I am less reactive than I may have been at the beginning when I was only coaching for a few years. I am totally impervious to anything that can happen externally through the media, whether it’s on TV or in the written press, and that gives me peace of mind,” he added.
“If there is ever pressure on me, it’s just adrenaline, and it’s only there because we succeeded and managed to win. The most important thing is what’s in front of us. There are new goals, players who change, players who stop working well together.
© Reuters
France will play in Group D at Euro 2024
“There is only one truth that counts and that truth is on the pitch. The human side of building a balanced group is fragile but exciting. It leads to a lot of reflections and discussions with my technical staff, but I like being alone and choosing.
“Whenever I make decisions, it is because I think at that moment it’s not the best solution for me, but rather the best solution for the good of the French team.”
France will open their Euro 2024 challenge against Austria on June 17, while they will also tackle the Netherlands and Poland in a very interesting Group D.
The Blues recorded a 3-0 victory over Luxembourg in their friendly on Wednesday evening, and they will now face Canada on Sunday in their final warm-up fixture for the tournament.
A star-studded squad includes Kylian Mbappe, who will officially make the move to Real Madrid on a free transfer at the start of next month.