Deschamps hails ‘decisive qualities’ that tookFranceto top of world

DIDIER Deschamps became the third ever man to both play and coach his country to the World Cup title, and was soaked by his players in champagne and water before the start of his press conference at the Luzhniki Stadium this evening.

Joking that his players were “completely crazy”, Deschamps then said how delighted he was for them, and paid tribute to their mental strength in helping France to win the cup.

“I had the immense pleasure, and privilege to live through this as a player 20 years ago, in France, which of course is marked in my memory forever,” Deschamps said. “What the players did today, is just as beautiful, just as strong.”

Deschamps told his players that their lives will never be the same again, and said that while he hoped Kylian Mbappe would go on to win this tournament again, there could be no guarantee of that.

“From tonight, I am sorry for them, but they will be different, they are world champions,” Deschamps said.

HAPPINESS

“I was happy to see the happiness of players. Mbappe is only 19 years old. I hope he will be a world champion again. He has done so much already. But you never know. Twenty years ago, David Trezeguet and Thierry Henry were 19. But they didn’t become world champions again.

“Today, my players are world champions. My greatest joy, my happiness, is linked to theirs.”

Defending France’s style of play, Deschamps said more talented teams had lacked the right mentality to win, but that his side knew how to get over the line.

“My greatest source of pride with this group is that they had the right state of mind for this tournament. Yes, there are imperfections, today was not perfect, but we did have the mentality and psychological qualities that are decisive in a World Cup.

“We could see the teams with the best technical skills did not have enough of those. In the first half of the final, we didn’t have much. People were asking: is France a beautiful champion? Well, we are champions. On top of the world for the next four years.”

Deschamps also pointed to France’s extra-time defeat in Paris two years ago in the final of Euro 2016, saying that that pain was important for the team to be ready to win the final tonight.

“Two years ago, it was so, so painful to lose the opportunity to be European champions,” Deschamps said. “But maybe if we were European champions, we wouldn’t be world champions.

“I’m proud of them. Also proud of myself.”