The coach is currently preparing France for this summer’s Euro 2020, where they will be aiming to beat one better than their appearance in the 2016 final.
Deschamps can continue after 2022 with his president’s agreement
Didier Deschamps has opened the door to renewing his deal with France while adding to the reports for N’Golo Kante to win the 2021 Ballon d’Or. The coach is currently preparing France for this summer’s Euro 2020, where they will be aiming to beat one better than their appearance in the 2016 final. The 52-year-old is in his ninth year at the national team’s helm but only has 12 months left on his current deal and hopes to be offered new terms after overseeing their latest major tournament. “I can continue after 2022 with the agreement of my president,” the France boss told reporters. “Supporters have to want to keep me, and for that, you need results. Then, of course, I’ll do something different at some point, but I’m thriving in this managerial role.
According to the coach, N’Golo doesn’t have the record of a striker
“I have a deal until December 2022, but today I do not think to become a coach of the club. However, I am delighted all the conditions are met.” Deschamps has been on the touchline for the national teams’ last 112 appearances in all tournaments, registering 74 wins, 20 draws and 18 losses. France reached the 2014 World Cup quarter-finals under his leadership before winning the competition four years later in Russia, thrashing Croatia 4-2 in the final. In addition, N’Golo has been declared a potential winner of this year’s Ballon d’Or after another exceptional season at Chelsea. He helped win the second Champions League crown in their history last month. French team-mate Paul Pogba has been among those to endorse the midfielder for football’s most prestigious individual prize, and Deschamps agrees that he will be a well-deserved winner.
“N’Golo, he does not have the record of a striker,” added the France coach. “Kante can score a few goals, but because of what he does, everyone must have watched his last matches, especially the Champions League final; N’Golo is also a driving force. The Ballon d’Or? He deserves it. You know the criteria; like me, it mostly concerns offensive footballers. When there was a defender or a midfielder, that was because there was no forward who had marked the football year. Kante is one of those driving forces of the France national team too; he has a place – it is not concerning his size, by saying that he is small and he is huge!”