‘I don’t like that at all’ – Didier Deschamps rejects France’s tag as favourites to reach World Cup final | OneFootball

It is one thing for France to be considered one of the favourites to win the 2026 World Cup; it is quite another to see them already in the final, without taking their future opponents into account. The latter in particular is something that really rubs Didier Deschamps up the wrong way.

“The World Cup is a major event, as it always is. But the fact that people are already seeing us on 19th July (the date of the final) doesn’t sit well with me at all,” the France manager made clear at a press conference on Friday.

“The only thing that is certain are our three group-stage opponents,” Deschamps reminded everyone, with 18 days to go before his team’s opening match of the tournament against Senegal.

“Yes, France is among the best, but I know all too well that before we can think about reaching the top, there are important steps to take.”

Facing the Lions of Teranga on 16th June, Kylian Mbappé’s (27) teammates will then take on Iraq (22nd June) and Norway (26th June) in their bid to qualify for the tournament’s round of 16. The second “step”, as described by Deschamps, towards a potential third consecutive World Cup final, for which Les Bleus are determined to qualify.

“A World Cup – there’s nothing more beautiful, nothing more powerful in professional football. We’ll do everything we can to be there.”

GFFN | Léo Aschi