Will Didier Deschamps stay? Should Karim Benzema have played? Key questions facing France after 2022 World Cup final
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Published 19/12/2022 at 16:01 GMT
France lost a dramatic 2022 World Cup final, very possibly the greatest ever, on Sunday night against Argentina. While the focus for many is Lionel Messi's triumph, in France there are ruminations and a mixed bag of emotions as they reflect on potential mistakes and where to go next. Eurosport France's Maxime Dupuis told us about how the country is dealing with the disappointment.
Balague on Messi’s journey to greatness after incredible World Cup triumph
Now the dust has settled on the 2022 World Cup final, France are facing a post-mortem full of questions.
France lost on penalties after a frenetic 3-3 draw with Argentina as a Kylian Mbappe hat-trick was not enough to stop Lionel Messi finally lifting the Jules Rimet trophy, the last remaining major trophy he had left to win.
Eurosport France's Maxime Dupuis believes that the overwhelming emotion after the disappointment of losing is one of pride.
Dupuis explained the feelings in France, saying the country is "ambivalent, because above all, Les Bleus have lost a huge World Cup final, without doubt the greatest in history.
"So there is disappointment, but also a form of pride in having played such a match. Nothing for 70 minutes and then two flashes of brilliance. For me, this final is 1954, 1966, 1970 and 1986 combined.
"There will be critics, of course. As usual. For the shootout, for instance, as we are now the English of the exercise, when we thought we became the Germans on the field!”
France head coach Didier Deschamps failed to win consecutive World Cups, and rumours emerged earlier in the year that former Real Madrid manager, and Deschamps’ ex-France team-mate, Zinedine Zidane could be set to take over.
However, Dupuis is not convinced that Deschamps will leave yet.
He said: “I don't know where these rumours come from. The only thing we know is: Deschamps can sign a new contract if he wants. If not, it will be Zidane.”
More recent speculation claimed that Karim Benzema, injured on the eve of the World Cup, could have been recalled for the final in dramatic circumstances, but Dupuis thinks there was no clear benefit to bringing him back.
“Which Benzema? The one at full strength? Or the one with one friendly game played last week?
"Remember, France with Benzema was eliminated in the round of 16 in the last Euros. And, ironically, he was really good individually. But football is a team sport and addition by subtraction is not a myth. There are hundred of examples like this in history."
Dupuis also believed the virus that spread through the squad held the team back, saying: “It has, for sure. But this is not an excuse. Not ideal to prepare for a final like this. Raphael Varane was tired like never before at the end of the game yesterday.”
Away from Messi, much of the coverage has focused on the two goalkeepers in the penalty shootout.
Argentina’s Emiliano Martinez was consistently disruptive as he attempted to put off his opponents, getting a booking for his troubles, while Hugo Lloris might have been replaced by Alphonse Areola or Steve Mandanda for the shootout.
Dupuis defended Martinez’s antics and saw no overwhelming case to swap out France’s goalkeeper even though he failed to save a penalty.
“Martinez did what a goalkeeper has to do. Not the most classy goalkeeper ever but...he did his job,” he stated.
“As for substituting Lloris, for whom? Mandanda? Areola? If Mike Maignan had been there, it would have made sense. But not with Mandanda or Areola, that wasn't an obvious move. They are better than Lloris, of course. But not penalty specialists.”
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