Coming agonizingly near capturing a second consecutive World Cup title, Didier Deschamps’ valiant efforts to steer France on a outstanding comeback finally culminated in a heartbreaking penalty shootout defeat to Argentina on Sunday.
Les Bleus, bidding to turn out to be the primary staff to retain the title since Brazil in 1962, went by means of the opening hour like ghosts and fell 2-0 behind after Lionel Messi’s penalty and Angel Di Maria’s purpose earlier than the unthinkable occurred.
After Deschamps had made a number of modifications, taking off Olivier Giroud, Ousmane Dembele, Antoine Griezmann and Theo Hernandez, France burst into life as Kylian Mbappe scored a penalty and a shocking volley inside 97 seconds to stage the scores.
Messi struck once more in additional time, however so did Mbappe with one other penalty to make it 3-3, just for Randal Kolo Muani to be denied by Emiliano Martinez within the dying seconds earlier than France misplaced the shootout 4-2, changing into the primary staff to style defeat in a World Cup ultimate after scoring three targets.
“We came back from the brink, that’s what gives us so many regrets,” Deschamps, who guided France to the title in 2018, informed a news convention.
“We’ve bought a World Cup ball within the final minute nevertheless it was not meant to be. If we’re 2-0 down after which we lose 3-0, it is totally different. You say ‘bravo’ to Argentina and that is it.
“I still congratulate them, they played a great game, with a bit of gamesmanship, but we were expecting that and it does not take any merit from their victory.”
Lack of aggression
France had been hit by a virus throughout the lead-up to the ultimate and appeared to lack their typical aggression within the first half.
“We did not have the energy we had in our previous games but I was not worried about any player who started the game tonight,” Deschamps stated.
“We were against a team who played a World Cup final while I had the feeling it was not our case.”
Kolo Muani and Marcus Thuram got here on within the forty first minute, earlier than Eduardo Camavinga and Kingsley Coman entered the fray within the 71st.
“(For the first two changes) I could not wait until halftime. Ousmane and Olivier took us to the final but they were not as good today. When things don’t work, you have to shake things up,” stated Deschamps.
“In the end, I’m very sad for my players, my staff.”
Deschamps’s contract expires on the finish of the yr however having reached the purpose of constructing it to the final 4, he should resolve whether or not to increase it.
“I’m having a meeting with my president at the beginning of the year. Then, you’ll know,” stated Deschamps, who has been in cost since 2012, reaching the Euro 2016 ultimate, successful the 2018 World Cup, final yr’s Nations League and making it to the World Cup ultimate once more.
The coin might have flipped the opposite approach, particularly because of Mbappe’s magnificent efficiency as he turned the second participant to attain a hat-trick in a World Cup ultimate.
“He wanted to make his mark on this World Cup. He did, but not as much as he wanted,” Deschamps stated.
