Didier Deschamps is currently the national fotball coach of France. At this point, he has done well as the coch. However, he has come under huge scrutiny for his selection of the French squad for the latest and ongoing international break. The major talking point is the omission of French captain, Kylian Mbappe.
This is the second consecutive international break that Mbappe has been excluded from the national squad. This is coming off indifferent form for Real Madrid. It's these two things that have called into question his captaincy of Les Bleus.
He was omitted from the squad in October under the reasoning that he needed to recover from the injuries he had suffered. Lately, Deschamps has suggested that Mbappe is with the squad. He has also advised people to leave him be.
Despite this, the 56-year-old revealed hints of Mbappe’s struggles, "He wanted to come. But I think it’s better for him [not to be selected] at this moment. Everyone can go through a difficult period. There is a physical element and a psychological element." These comments suggest a broader set of issues beyond physical fitness, pointing to mental challenges faced by the player during a tough transitional period.
While this may be true, the true underlying reason could be a strained relationship between coach and captain. The player’s absence, coupled with reports of frustration among teammates over perceived favouritism, suggests that Deschamps is walking a fine line in managing the star forward’s role within the team.
As a player who has long been expected to lead France’s next generation, his current form raises doubts about his ability to shoulder that responsibility.
Mbappe was heavily criticised for his poor performance in the embarrassing 4-0 El Clasico defeat to Barcelona in which he was caught offside an astonishing eight times throughout the match. He also came under fire for missing the October international window to recover his fitness, as he was dealing with a muscle injury at the time but also did play games for Real Madrid both immediately prior to and following the break.
Mbappe seemed to confirm Deschamps' decision himself, saying in response to his absence: "It's my responsibility to make decisions. I think it's better that way." In fact, those comments seemed to suggest that this decision was not down to his on-field form but instead potential off-field trouble that he is attempting to own up to.
They drew 0-0 in their penultimate Nations League match against Israel. It was during this match that several observers witnessed the condemned Deschamps' current coaching gig. Journalist, Romain Beddouk, has pointed the finger at Deschamps for everything that's happened. He stressed, "Didier Deschamps spoke about the control we had, and it's fortunate that we maintained possession at the Stade de France. But that's not the most important thing. The most crucial part is what we do with the ball. And here, we are completely lost. As soon as we cross the halfway line, we lose all inspiration and that falls on the coach, on Didier Deschamps."
Up untill the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Deschamps could hide behind good performances. Nowadays, he has to face the realities of when the French don't perform at their optimal level. Beddouck continued, "Of course, the players have not performed well on the field. But the players haven’t performed well because there is no structure. And without structure, players cannot express themselves and have to rely on individual brilliance. For the coach to think this way and base all his success on it shows just how out of touch he is with football in 2024. By the way, the French team has won less than half of its matches this year."
The French team have sided with Mbappe. Ibrahima Konate has said, "We must not forget what Kylian did for the French team. We lack a little recognition towards him. I hope to see him again very soon, because he is very important to us."
It's been claimed that Deschamps has delibraately downplayed Zinedine Zidane's career. This is in light of the rivalry between the two in regards to the national job. The two played side by side in the national side and formed the iconic midfield during France's golden generation, clinching the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000, with Zidane often described as the most talented French player of his time.
Tensions between the two French icons may have come to light when Deschamps, during an interview, sidestepped naming the best player he ever played alongside. Zidane was a glaring omission and another member of the victorious '98 squad, Christophe Dugarry, believes it's impossible for Deschamps to speak positively about the Ballon d’Or winner as long as he sees him as competition.
Dugarry said, "Of course, he will never put him (on his list). He won't say 'Zizou' because he won't highlight him. Never. The best he has known is obviously Zidane. Who made him win the World Cup? It's Zidane! Who made him win many things? It's Zidane. But he will never say it! He will never say it!"
Reports in France suggest Deschamps is facing a revolt from within the dressing room, with players frustrated with his methods and now pushing for Zidane to succeed him. Another 1998 World Cup winner and Arsenal legend, Thierry Henry, said two years ago: "I think he [Zidane] is waiting for one thing and one thing only and that's the national team. Why would you get into club football again when you've won three Champions Leagues with Real Madrid?"
I don't know what to think of all this. On the one side, form means everything in sport. If I were a manager, I would pick players solely on who's been performing well. If my captain or afan favourite wasn't performing well, I wouldn't pick him. It's a sign that players have to earn their spot and that no player is constantly entitled to a place in the squad/team.
On the other, the coach should be aware that the media will always be on the look out for any omissions. They, along with other people, will question why that player is missing. They should be up front and be honest. They can't make up excuses just to appease everyone else.
Addtionally, a coach should acknowledge another player should they be brought up. Theycan't just discard the name just because that one is gunning for your job. You have to put your feelings aside and gladly speak of them.