​Leading France for 13 Years Without Missing a Major Tournament! Deschamps: "This Is What French Football Must Do"

November 14 – After securing a 4-0 victory over Ukraine in the early hours of this morning Beijing time, the French national team clinched their ticket to the 2026 World Cup ahead of schedule. Following the match, France manager Didier Deschamps spoke to the media, sharing his thoughts and reflections on the game.  

On qualifying for the 2026 World Cup 
We must always cherish the good moments. I understand that for the French team, qualification may seem like a given, something that happens naturally. But according to some, we should have secured qualification as early as October. However, it's important to remember that we are in a group with four teams – that simply wasn't possible.  

Tonight, under challenging conditions and against an opponent that set up in a tightly packed defensive formation, the team delivered an excellent performance. I am very pleased with that, even if it wasn't the first time they've shown such resilience. I'm also happy for the staff, because the French team must be present at every major tournament.  

Can you finally allow yourself to fully enjoy World Cup qualification now?  
Of course, I am delighted. This was our objective, and we have achieved it. I know some may think our qualification was inevitable, but we faced strong opponents. The entire coaching staff and all the players are very proud – this was by no means an easy feat. I'm not one to show much emotion (though perhaps I'm a bit more expressive in my personal life), but this is truly a moment to celebrate. As a player, I never had the chance to play in a World Cup in the Americas. That's life: you can't win everything, and you can't have it all.  

On the team's overall performance in the match 
We had to maintain constant pressure on the opponent and make the game faster and more dynamic. We completely dominated possession, but created very few chances in the first half. Later, we faced an opponent that dropped their defensive line 25 meters or even deeper from our goal, which made it extremely difficult to break them down. The introductions of Akliouche and Ekitike brought significant changes to the game. In the first half, we were somewhat cautious and lacked speed. While we controlled the match, the players weren't making effective runs.  

On prospects for this World Cup
This is a new format – more teams, an extra match, and the challenges of playing in the Americas. The coaching staff has given it a lot of thought, and we'll get our first answers on December 5th. We must be ambitious yet grounded, and also adapt to specific climatic conditions. Match timing, scheduling gaps, physical recovery – all these require careful planning. But we will always set out with great ambition, starting with a solid performance in the first round.  

On the team's transition between generations  
Many players have gained valuable playing time, which is crucial. There were indeed quite a few injuries during this international break. While it gave me the chance to observe other players, it also affected the completeness of our tactical preparations. If all players are fit – which is my greatest hope – the selection decisions will become even tougher. But continuously promoting the transition between generations remains key, especially for future challenges. This has always been a priority in my work. As for Mbappé? He has fully embraced his role as captain.  

Revisiting the shortcomings in the match
Our coordination wasn't fluid enough, and the team dropped too deep. I won't get angry over it, but I made it clear to the players what was needed to break through the opponent's defensive lines. Later, more space opened up in attack, and the opponents began to tire. Many factors influenced the flow of the game, but that's football – we've experienced such scenarios many times before.  

Source: RMC Sport