Spirit of '98 infecting France, says Deschamps

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Spirit of '98 infecting France, says Deschamps

ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT / AFP

Coach Didier Deschamps says the same spirit which helped carry France to their 1998 World Cup victory is infecting the current squad, who Friday thumped Switzerland 5-2.

Four years to the day after France's South Africa campaign unravelled when the players went on strike, Deschamps says the discord of 2010 has been replaced by a rock solid "esprit de corps" in Brazil.

"You can't compare dressing rooms to the one in 1998, but I have a very focused group and they have the mind-set which they want to maintain," said Deschamps, who captained France to the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000 victory.

"There is a force which is rising, it's not a guarantee of our success, but this mind-set is very powerful."

The French are on the brink of qualifying for the last 16 after sweeping the Swiss aside with Real Madrid's Karim Benzema turning in a man-of-the-match display.

Deschamps's squad tops Group E having scored eight goals including their opening 3-0 win over Honduras.

Benzema made up for failing to convert a first-half penalty by netting their fourth goal as Olivier Giroud, Mathieu Valbuena, Moussa Sissko and Blaise Matuidi also got on the scoresheet before the Swiss pulled back two late goals.

"It was a great day for us, we were 5-0 up against a good Swiss team after 75 minutes and we really had a lot of pressure in midfield," said Deschamps.

"There were a few turning points in the game, but to be able to reach 3-0 at half-time really helps.

"At 2-0, opponents can still turn things round, but 3-0 makes a difference.

"We have to continue in the same vein, we have now scored eight goals and have been very effective, there's no doubt about that.

"We'll have to see what happens in Honduras-Ecuador and we have still have another game to come."

Unless Ecuador beat Honduras in Friday's late match, France will be through to the last 16.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2014-06-21

[Aforek]

I think ( and now many French people think the same ) that it's good for France that Ribery is not here: he makes already problems in France with Deschamps for a medical issue ; This team doesn't need a superstar, there is a good atmosphere and they respect Deschamps.

[bigbamboo]

So is the clap.

OK, although they haven't beaten much yet the French are looking good up front but a bit like the Dutch they also look vulnerable at the back.

This World Cup is so open any number of teams could win it.

[KhunKone]

Agreed BigBamboo they haven't played any of the "big ones", the Dutch at least has wrecked Spain...

So let's calm down and wait for the next round hopefully.

Once again that's all french here : so quickly lovers as they also might become quickly haters...