EAST RUTHERFORD, N,J. (AP) 鈥� France coach Didier Deschamps is back with Les Bleus for their round of 32 match against Sweden at the on Tuesday after .
Deschamps learned of his mother鈥檚 death the day after on June 22, which clinched advancement from the group stage. He missed Friday’s .
鈥淚鈥檓 here. I鈥檓 good, and it鈥檚 good to be busy since Friday evening when I arrived back in the United States,鈥� Dechamps said Monday through a translator.
France swept its group matches for the first time since 1998, joined by Argentina and Mexico as the only nations to win all three games. Seeking their third title after 1998 and 2018, Les Blues would face Germany or Paraguay in the round of 16 if they get past the Swedes.
鈥淔or me it was very difficult. And for me and for the French national team it was important that I left. They did what they had to do,鈥� Deschamps said. 鈥淎nd now we鈥檙e preparing a competition within the competition.鈥�
Assistant Guy St茅phan led the team to the 4-1 win over Norway in Deschamps’ absence.
鈥淚t was somewhat of a shock,鈥� midfielder Adrien Rabiot said through a translator. 鈥淗e completely trusted in us and we delivered the best way possible. We鈥檙e happy that he鈥檚 back. I don’t think that it鈥檚 so easy to have to grieve in these conditions. This is football and now we have the World Cup and it is the way it is.”
Deschamps coached France to the and to the 2022 final, a .
Captain of France鈥檚 1998 champions, Deschamps took over as coach in 2012 and said in January he would He is trying to become the second coach to win two World Cup titles after Italy鈥檚 Vittorio Pozzo in 1934 and 1938.
鈥淒idier came back with the willpower to go as far as possible in this World Cup. It is something that, of course, will also help him to forget a little bit about these tragic events,鈥� Rabiot said. “He smiled a lot. He tried to be enthusiastic, although I know that he鈥檚 very affected by his grief. I think he鈥檚 trying not to show it, not to transmit any negative to the squad.鈥�
FIFA denied France’s request to wear black armbands for coach’s mother
FIFA denied a request by the French soccer federation to wear black armbands against Norway in honor of Deschamps mother.
鈥淚t doesn鈥檛 change a lot for me, to be very honest with you,鈥� Deschamps said. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 need that to have an additional sign. I already had enough signs as it was, whether it was directly or indirectly.鈥�
FIFA did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.
Marcus Thuram to miss match against Sweden and N’Golo Kant茅 uncertain
Striker Marcus Thuram won’t be available against Sweden because of a calf injury and midfielder N鈥橤olo Kant茅 is uncertain.
鈥淎s far as Markus, no, he has a little issue. It鈥檚 not very serious but muscular,鈥� Deschamps said. 鈥淎s far as N鈥橤olo, it鈥檚 not muscular, but maybe it鈥檒l be too tight for him to be in the starting 11 tomorrow.鈥�
Thuram, a son of 1998 World Cup champion Lilian Thuram, entered in second-half injury time against Iraq in his only appearance so far.
Defender William Saliba went the distance in the first two matches and rested against Norway.
鈥淥f course he has issues with his back, and that is not something new,鈥� Deschamps said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 not at 100%, but if he鈥檚 at 99% it鈥檚 good for the matches. Everything is good.鈥�
First-time World Cup meeting between France and Sweden
France is meeting Sweden at the World Cup for the first time.
Les Blues had the best goal difference in the group stage at plus-8, outscoring opponents 10-2.
鈥淲e could have scored more,” Deschamps said. “We did concede two goals, but we did concede too many goal-scoring opportunities.”
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