Deschamps expects the "Blacks" to shine in the World Cup.
French national football team coach Didier Deschamps considers Morocco to be among the teams likely to play advanced roles in the 2026 World Cup, similar to what they achieved in the last edition held in Qatar.
In an interview with the newspaper "Le Figaro," Deschamps nominated the teams of France, Spain, Portugal, England, Germany, Brazil, and Argentina to compete for the title. He added in the same interview: "Like Morocco, which reached the semifinals of the last World Cup and we faced them in that round, one or two African teams may succeed in having a remarkable journey and going far in the tournament."
The Moroccan national team reached the semifinals of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, marking an unprecedented achievement for an African team in the history of the World Cup.
In the 2026 World Cup hosted by North America, the "Atlas Lions" will compete in Group C alongside Brazil, Scotland, and Haiti, starting their journey tomorrow, Saturday, with a match against Brazil at the New York-New Jersey stadium, followed by a match against Scotland on June 19 in Boston, and then Haiti on June 24 in Atlanta.
On the other hand, Deschamps confirmed that the French national team remains one of the top contenders for the title, acknowledging the strength of the competition, saying: "The French team is among the contenders, but it is not the only one."
In response to a question about the goals of the "Les Bleus" team, the coach emphasized the need to combine ambition with humility, adding: "I will do everything in my power to reach the top, but there will be stages that need to be overcome. We must not forget that and maintain a sufficient level of humility, which does not contradict having a very high ambition."
The French national team plays in Group 9 alongside Senegal, Iraq, and Norway, starting their journey on Tuesday, June 16, with a match against Senegal at the New York-New Jersey stadium, before facing Iraq on June 22 in Philadelphia, and then Norway on June 26 in Boston.
Deschamps, who has been coaching the French national team for fourteen years and is entering his last tournament at the helm of "Les Bleus," also addressed the changes that coaching has undergone, particularly those related to the evolution of playing styles, media, and the new generations of players, considering that modern technical management requires a greater degree of adaptation and communication.
Regarding his future, the 57-year-old coach clarified that he has not yet decided on his next step following his anticipated departure from the French national team at the end of the 2026 World Cup, confirming that he currently does not have a clear vision for his professional future, saying: "I will stop without having a clear vision for my future, and I have not made any plans to return to coaching at this time."
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