Deschamps' French team 2013-2022

Following a complicated decade for French football. Didier Deschamps arrives to replace another former 98 World champion, Laurent Blanc. Didier Deschamps will bring a much more defensive philosophy. After the fiasco of Euro 2008 and even worse, the Knysna affair in 2010, Didier Deschamps wants to relaunch a spirit of winning and above all a pride in wearing the national jersey. His work began in 2012, but the adventure of a future great French team began in 2013.

The French team can count on experienced players: Hugo Lloris, Adil Rami, Laurent Koscielny, Bacary Sagna, Eric Abidal, Patrice Evra, Blaise Matuidi, Franck Ribéry, Jérémy Menez, Samir Nasri, Mathieu Valbuena, Dimitri Payet, André-Pierre Gignac, Bafétimbi Gomis or even Karim Benzema. In addition to these executives, a new generation is arriving: Raphaël Varane, Eliaquim Mangala, Mamadou Sakho, Josuha Guilavogui, Paul Pogba, Moussa Sissoko, Geoffrey Kondogbia, Alexandre Lacazette and Olivier Giroud.

Didier Deschamps opts for a 4-2-3-1 in more than half of the matches but the start of this year 2013 is complicated, 2-1 defeat against Germany, 3-1 victory against Georgia, 1-0 defeat against Spain, 1-0 defeat against Uruguay, 3-0 defeat against Brazil, 0-0 draw against Belgium, 0-0 draw against Georgia and then finally a 4-2 victory against Belarus.

The upcoming deadline is the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, but France is only an average nation compared to the world leaders despite a very good squad. The team seems apathetic. The team, which is in a World Cup qualifying group made up of Spain, Finland, Georgia and Belarus, struggles to convince and only finishes in second place in the group. France will therefore go to the jump-off to hope to qualify.

France plays 2 friendly matches to prepare for the play-off, the first against Australia, largely won 6-0 (double from Giroud), then a second won 3-0 against Finland (Benzema and Ribéry both score a aim).

This year 2013 ends with the return match between France and Ukraine to determine who qualifies for the World Cup. The French media are arrogant and assert the clear superiority of the French workforce. But the match will be completely different, Ukraine surprises France and wins the match 2-0. Following the match, the players were violently criticized in the media, many supporters abandoned this French team which only disappointed.

4 days later, it's already the return match, France must achieve a miracle against a team that will defend at all costs. But one man will become the hero of an entire nation: Mamadou Sackho. The young defender will achieve a double, a historic double, since with Benzema's goal, France reverses the situation and wins 3-2 on aggregate.

This match will be experienced as the real starting point of the team which will dominate selection football in the following years. Didier Deschamps and several players on the team experienced this moment as the one that reconciled the French with the national team.The French team ended the year in 20th place in the FIFA rankings.

The year 2014 comes with a new composition in 4-1-2-2-1. At the goalkeeper position we find Hugo Lloris, in defense on the left Patrice Evra, on the right Matthieu Debuchy or Bacary Sagna, in central defense Raphaël Varane, Laurent Koscielny or Mamadou Sackho. The midfield is made up of Yohan Cabaye, Paul Pogba and Matuidi. In front of them we find Valbuena or Sissoko, accompanied by Karim Benzema or Olivier Giroud and a new kid, Antoine Griezmann who is achieving very good things with Real Sociedad.

This 2014 season will create a feeling of group among the players and also a very good dynamic. Indeed, the French team will have a superb year with 15 matches, 10 victories, 4 draws and 1 defeat. The French team began its year with a great victory against the Netherlands 2-0 (goals from Benzema and Matuidi), then 4-0 against Norway (double from Giroud) before stalling against Paraguay 1-1. The team recovered very quickly with a magnificent 8-0 inflicted on Jamaica (double from Benzema and double from Griezmann) during its last match before the World Cup.

At the World Cup, France falls into group E with Switzerland, Ecuador and Honduras, a group that is largely affordable for France. And this is seen in the results, the team which plays with a lot of pressure, crushes Honduras 3-0 before beating Switzerland 5-2. During the 3rd match, Didier Deschamps rotated his squad but did not lose, final score 0-0 against Ecuador.

During the round of 16, the French team played against Nigeria, Paul Pogba opened the scoring in the 79th minute with Yobo scoring an own goal, final score 2-0. In the quarter-final, France faces the best team in the tournament, Germany, which has a golden generation. Hummels opened the scoring with a header in the 13th minute. And the German team can count on a Manuel Neuer in the prime of his life who stops the French strikes one by one... final score 1-0 for Germany, but France put on a good show, and stuck its head out high, despite the tears of a very young Antoine Griezmann. Paul Pogba was voted the best young player in the competition and, at the age of 21, is the boss of the French midfielder.

Subsequently, France played a lot of friendlies, 1-0 victory against Spain, 1-1 draw against Serbia, 2-1 victory against Portugal, 3-0 victory against Armenia, 1-1 draw against Albania and 1-0 victory against Sweden. The French team finished the year 7th in the FIFA rankings.

For 2015, Didier Deschamps can count on a French generation in constant progress, Alphonse Areola (22 years old), Lucas Digne (21 years old), Kurt Zouma (20 years old), Kingsley Coman (19 years old), Nabil Fekir (21 years old). years), Anthony Martial (19 years old) or even Paul-Georges Ntep (22 years old).

France, which organizes Euro 2016, does not have to play a qualifying phase and will therefore organize friendly matches. And even if the year starts badly, 3 defeats in the first 4 matches (1-3 Brazil, 3-4 Belgium and 1-0 Albania). France will once again display a conquering face afterwards. 1-0 victory against Portugal, 2-1 against Serbia, 4-0 against Armenia, 2-1 against Denmark, 2-0 against Germany then a 2-0 defeat against England.

For this Euro and this year 2016, Didier Deschamps changes tactics again with a 4-4-2 composition. New young people join the team with Aymeric Laporte (who will never play), Samuel Umtiti (22 years old), Sébastien Corchia (25 years old), Layvin Kurzawa (23 years old), Djibril Sidibé (23 years old), Adrien Rabiot (21 years old ), N'Golo Kanté (25 years old), Thomas Lemar (20 years old), and Ousmane Dembélé (19 years old).

But France finds itself without two squad members: Valbuena and Benzema. The Benzema-Valbuena affair, also known as the sex tape affair, began in 2015 when Mathieu Valbuena was the victim of an attempted blackmail regarding an intimate video. Karim Benzema was implicated by intermediaries who wanted him to persuade Valbuena to pay. Benzema was indicted for complicity in attempted blackmail. After more than six years, Benzema was sentenced to a one-year suspended prison sentence and a €75,000 fine.

France, however, won its 4 friendly matches before the Euro (3-2 against the Netherlands, 4-2 against Russia, 3-2 against Cameroon and 3-0 against Scotland). Giroud establishes himself as the indisputable starting striker of this France team and is unfairly criticized by supporters who want Benzema to return to the France team.

The Euro begins with a France-Romania, the typical team is as follows: Hugo Lloris, Patrice Evra, Laurent Koscielny, Adil Rami, Bacary Sagna, Blaise Matuidi, N'Golo Kanté and Paul Pogba then Dimitri Payet, Olivier Giroud and Antoine Griezmann in a classic 4-3-3. The match was bogged down in a 1-1 match before Dimitri Payet sealed the victory with a superb strike from outside the box in the 89th minute. Payet will logically be elected man of the match, at Sofascore, he obtains a score of 9.4 out of 10.

In the next match, France faced Albania, and won in the very last minutes again, goal from Griezmann in the 90th minute then from Payet at 90+6, Payet obtained the score of 7.9 out of 10 where he replaced him as a central attacking midfielder in a 4-2-3-1. Against Switzerland during the 3rd group match, the match was dull with Payet on the bench, 0-0 final score.

In the round of 16, France faced Ireland and won 2-1 thanks to a double from Griezmann. The latter obtains a score of 8.5 out of 10, Payet obtains the same score. The two players carry the team and are not going to stop there. Because in the next round, France faces the surprise team of the tournament, Iceland, and they will destroy Little Thumb's hopes, 5-2 final score. Giroud scores a double and an assist, Griezmann scores a goal and offers 2 assists and Payet, he scores 1 goal and 1 assist. Their scores are respectively 9.2; 8.2 and 8.7 out of 10.

In the semi-final, France faces Germany in a match that looks like revenge for the French who still have that bitter taste in their throat since the 2014 World Cup. But this time the match is different, France is endowed from a genius Antoine Griezmann, who plants a double and seals the result of the match 2-0. Griezmann gets a rating of 9 out of 10 at Sofascore.

The final will be the scene of cruel disappointment for the French team which loses this match 1-0 in extra time against Portugal, in France, at home. A trauma that will make the team stronger later.

Payet is certainly the forgotten player of this tournament, in the shadow of Antoine Griezmann who carried the team in the last matches of the competition, he obtains an overall rating of 7.8 over the entire tournament. For Giroud, this rating is 7.33 and for Griezmann it is 7.64. In the following months in 2016, France did not lose any of its matches and finished 7th in the FIFA rankings.

The year 2017 saw the debut in blue for some players, first Steven N'Zonzi, a 28-year-old defensive midfielder measuring 1m96. Tiémoué Bakayoko, another 22-year-old defensive midfielder, who shines with Monaco. Benjamin Pavard, a central defender who can also play on the right, and who plays in the German second division at 21 years old. Presnel Kimpembe, a 21-year-old central defender. Corentin Tolisso, a 22-year-old box-to-box central midfielder and a certain Kilian Mbappé, who is only 18 years old and who is already one of the greatest hopes in world football.

As for the qualifying groups for the 2018 World Cup which will take place in Russia, the French team flies through its group and finishes 1st with 23 points (7 wins, 2 draws, 1 loss, 18 goals scored for 6 conceded). ). That year, France notably beat England 3-2, the Netherlands 4-0 and drew 2-2 against Germany. However, the team only finished in 9th place in the FIFA rankings but consolidated its 4-2-3-1 style of play with strong counter-pressing and a low block that played on the counter-attack.

The year 2018 will be that of consecration for a French Team which has now been showing great things for several years. After a 3-2 defeat against Colombia at the start of the year, France beat Russia 3-1, then Ireland and Italy (2-0 and 3-1) before drawing against the United States. United (1-1). Despite the good results, the French media do not see France as favorites for the World Cup.

Indeed, France lost Laurent Koscielny before the World Cup to injury. Adil Rami is called for his experience and the good humor that he brings back to the squad, a shadow work of which Didier Deschamps knows the importance in these big moments. As goalkeeper, Hugo Lloris is still there and is the captain of this team. Lucas Hernandez, a young 22-year-old left-back is lined up, Benjamin Pavard is on the right flank, in the center we find Raphaël Varane in the role of boss of the defense, with Samuel Umtiti at his side. The two midfielders are Paul Pogba and N'Golo Kanté. As left winger/advanced defensive midfielder, we find Blaise Matuidi, on the right, Kilian Mbappé is aligned despite his young age. In the attacking midfielder, we find Antoine Griezmann who is the technical boss of the team. As a striker, Olivier Giroud is still there despite the strong criticism he receives.

The French World Cup begins against Australia, an Australia which will give the French a hard time, final score 2-1. France is struggling to convince its supporters, and the following two matches will not reassure them, a short 1-0 victory against Peru (Mbappé's goal on a pass from Giroud) and a 0-0 draw against Denmark (Didier Deschamps using the 3rd group matches to rotate its squad).

The French tournament will be launched during the round of 16 where they meet Argentina's Lionel Messi, Angel Di Maria and Kun Aguero. France, which lines up a rapid attack on the counter, appears much more dangerous than its opponent, Kilian Mbappé has one of the best matches of his life, at only 19 years old. However, it is Argentina which leads in the 48th minute on a goal from Gabriel Mercado (2-1), but France will accelerate its game, and on a back cross from Lucas Hernandez, Benjamin Pavard makes a recovery of splendid volley, the goal of the tournament. Kilian Mbappé, who already obtained a penalty in the first half, scored twice in the second half. France won 4-3 after Aguera reduced the gap to 90+3 on a pass from Messi.

In the quarter-final, the team showed their talent on a set piece, Griezmann made a superb free kick for Varane's head, before Griezmann took advantage of a hand error to make it 2-0. In the semi-final, France faces Belgium which has a golden generation with Eden Hazard, Romelu Lukaku, Thibaut Courtois, Tony Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen. But France took advantage of a marking error on a corner, Griezmann found Umtiti who scored the only goal of the match, final score, 1-0.

In the final, France faces a surprise team from Croatia which led by Luka Modric, Ivan Rakitic and Ivan Perisic has big advantages. But France won 4-2 with goals from Mandzukic against his camp, Griezmann, Pogba and Mbappé. Mbappé gets an average rating of 7.34 over the entire tournament at just 19 years old (7 games, 4 goals), Griezmann is 7.43 (7 games, 4 goals, 2 assists), Pogba 7.27 on 10 (6 matches, 1 goal), Varane 7.13 (7 matches, 1 goal). Lloris is also one of the men in this tournament. Mbappé finishes best young player of the tournament.

Subsequently, France played the Nations League and friendly matches at a superb level. France finished the year in second place in the FIFA rankings.

In 2019, France no longer plays the Nations League (eliminated in the group stages, finishing 2nd behind the Netherlands). The club is playing qualifiers for Euro 2020 (which will be moved to 2021 due to the Covid pandemic). France finished 1st in its group with 25 points (8 wins, 1 draw, 1 loss, 25 goals scored and 6 conceded).

France is increasingly adopting a defensive philosophy with a 4-2-3-1 composition which is increasingly stereotypical. Jonathan Ikoné, Tanguy Ndombélé, Mattéo Guendouzi, Ferland Mendy, Léo Dubois, Clément Lenglet and Mike Maignan join the French group. At the same time, Samuel Umtiti, who admitted to having played the 2018 World Cup injured, suffered a series of injuries and lost his place in the team. France finished 2nd in the FIFA rankings.

In 2020, the French team is playing in the Nations League and confirms its status as the best team in the world. Wins 1-0 vs Sweden, 4-2 vs Croatia, 7-1 vs Ukraine, 2-1 vs Croatia, 1-0 vs Portugal, 4-2 vs Sweden, 0-0 draw vs Portugal and a 2-0 defeat against Finland.

For the year 2021, the team plays in different compositions, with 3, 4 or 5 defenders. But some players remain essential, starting with Hugo Lloris, Raphaël Varane, Paul Pogba, Antoine Griezmann, Kilian Mbappé and Olivier Giroud.

The team arrives at the Olympics on an excellent series, 4 victories in the last 4 matches, but against much inferior teams. At the Euro, Kilian Mbappé does not shine, on the contrary, for the first time, he seems to slow down his team's play and try to be the playmaker, while there is already Antoine Griezmann in this role.

For its entry into the competition, France faces Germany, as a sign of destiny, Mats Hummels scores an own goal. This is the only goal of the match, final score 1-0. France continues against Hungary and makes a sad 1-1, similar result in the third match against Portugal 2-2. Paul Pogba is the best player of this team which found Karim Benzema golden ball. Benzema and Pogba make a superb Euro. But they do not prevent France from sinking against Switzerland, surely due to too much confidence. Switzerland won the round of 16 5-4 on penalties (Mbappé seeing his shot on goal saved by Sommer), after a crazy 3-3 match.

After 2 qualifying matches for the World Cup ending 1-1 against Bosnia and Ukraine, France has 5 victories. Among them we find the semi-final won 3-2 against Belgium after France was trailing 2-0 at half-time, Karim Benzema being the major player in the comeback. Then a 2-1 victory in the Nations League final against Spain where Karim Benzema and Kilian Mbappé scored.

The year 2022 coincides with the passing of the torch between Hugo Lloris and Mike Maignan (Didier Deschamps favoring Hugo Lloris for his experience during the World Cup). In the Nations League, France disappointed and lost 3 matches before the World Cup (twice against Denmark and once against Croatia).

But where France shines is in its effectiveness during major tournaments. And during the 2022 World Cup, Didier Deschamps opts for a 4-2-3-1. Karim Benzema is not selected. Giroud takes his place at the forefront of the attack. Paul Pogba and N'Golo Kanté, the midfield pillars of the France team for years, are out of action due to injury.

From the first match, the France team set the tone and won 4-1 against Australia (double from Giroud, a goal from Mbappé and a goal from Rabiot). Théo Hernandez replaces his brother, position for position from the first match after Lucas' injury. Then confirms 2-1 against Denmark (double from Mbappé). But the style of play is criticized with Jules Koundé right defender, and a style of play that is even more defensive than before. Griezmann will have had a role as a complete midfielder, capable of recovering a significant number of balls, of being a relay midfielder and also this creative midfielder of the team. Antoine Griezmann is undoubtedly the most important player of this golden period of French football.

The third match ended in a defeat, once again Didier Deschamps had rotated his squad. During the round of 16, France quietly won against Poland at the end of the cycle 3-1, with a double from Mbappé and a goal from Giroud. The quarter-finals show another face of this French team which suffers from the game, dominated by the English, one fact of play will make the difference, the missed penalty from Harry Kane which does not destroy the French hopes. Tchouaméni and Giroud offer victory to the French. 2-1 victory.

In the semi-final, the France team faces the surprise of this tournament, Morocco which has just eliminated Spain and Portugal. But this time the efficiency of the French players will make the difference, Hugo Lloris is imperial on his line and Théo Hernandez and Kolo Muani offer the 2 winning goals, 2-0 victory.

In the final, Argentina will completely dominate a timid French team, which suffers from the game. The executives leave (Antoine Griezmann, Olivier Giroud, Ousmane Dembélé) to make way for young players in search of success with the tricolor jersey. Kolo Muani and Marcus Thuram make a superb entrance. Kilian Mbappé, who has remained silent until then in the match, will deliver a genius end to the match.

The French team, which was led 2-0 until the 79th minute, got a penalty that Kilian Mbappé scored against perhaps the best penalty goalkeeper of that year, Emiliano Martinez, 2 minutes later. on a pass from Marcus Thuram, Mbappé makes a magnificent volley and equalizes. In overtime the match becomes crazy, the ball goes from one side to the other, Raphaël Varane gives the remaining energy he has before leaving, exhausted. Messi scores again... it's a tragedy, but France gets another penalty, which Mbappé will convert, a hat-trick! At the very last second, Kolo Muani has the winning ball but Emiliano Martinez saves the competition and one of the most beautiful saves in history, such is the importance. During the penalty session, for which France is cursed (the last victory on penalties dates back to 1998), the French, lacking experience, cracked and let Argentina win the tournament. 

It's a bitter end to one of the most beautiful finals in history and a comeback that came out of nowhere. Didier Deschamps will have been able to lift the French team which was coming out of a dark period to reach the heights again, as he did at the end of the 90s as a player.