Formidable France in familiar territory in World Cup final

DOHA, AFP: The inspirational leadership of Didier Deschamps and a deep pool of talent have turned France into the most formidable force in international football as they prepare to face Argentina in Sunday’s World Cup final.

France arrived in Qatar aiming to defy the fate of many recent holders, even as a flood of injuries threatened to derail their title defence. The reigning champions had been knocked out in the group stage in four of the past five tournaments, including France themselves in 2002. But Deschamps’ side have, in his own words, “reversed the trend” and after beating Morocco 2-0 in the last four on Wednesday, they have the chance to make history in the final at Lusail Stadium.

No team have retained the trophy since Brazil in 1962, while no reigning champions had even made the final since the Brazilians in 1998. That team lost in Paris to a France side captained by Deschamps, who has been there for almost all of his country’s finest moments at major tournaments over a generation. After leading them to glory four years ago, he can become the first coach to win two World Cups since Italy’s Vittorio Pozzo in the 1930s.

“Deschamps has been to three finals now, and he wins them,” French President Emmanuel Macron said after making a flying visit to Qatar for the semi-final.

“Things always come in threes. Didier Deschamps brings luck as well as talent, so we are going to win it and bring the trophy home.”  Win or lose against Lionel Messi’s Argentina, France is going through a remarkable period of sustained success in international football that began with that World Cup triumph in 1998 and continued with their Euro 2000 win. Deschamps was not involved as Les Bleus, with Zinedine Zidane as captain, reached the World Cup final again in 2006 and lost to Italy.

Now, as they look to make history in Doha, it is easy to forget France’s disastrous 2010 campaign and that they were not seen as contenders for major honours when Deschamps took over in 2012.

But he has now led them to three finals in four major tournaments, with Euro 2016 ending in an agonising extra-time loss to Portugal. France also won the Nations League last year, and their last-16 exit at Euro 2020 looks like an anomaly.

They have now reached four World Cup finals in seven editions, putting themselves in the same bracket as multiple winners Germany, Italy, and Brazil.