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French coach Didier Deschamps returned to Les Bleus for their round of 16 match against Sweden in the World Cup on Tuesday after traveling to Europe for his mother’s funeral.
Deschamps learned of his mother’s death the day after France’s victory against Iraq on June 22, which allowed them to qualify for the group stage. He missed Friday’s victory against Norway.
“I’m here. I’m fine, and it feels good to be busy since Friday evening when I returned to the United States,” Dechamps said Monday through an interpreter.
France swept their group matches for the first time since 1998, joined by Argentina and Mexico as the only nations to have won all three matches. In search of a third title after 1998 and 2018, the Blues would face Germany or Paraguay in the round of 16 if they overtake the Swedes.
“For me, it was very difficult. And for me and for the French team, it was important that I left. They did what they had to do,” Deschamps said. “And now we are preparing for a competition within the competition.”
Assistant Guy Stéphan led the team to a 4-1 victory over Norway in Deschamps’ absence.
“It was a bit of a shock,” midfielder Adrien Rabiot said through an interpreter. “He trusted us completely and we did the best we could. We are happy that he is back. I don’t think it’s so easy to have to mourn in these conditions. It’s football, and now we have the World Cup, and that’s how it is.”
Deschamps coached France to the title in 2018 and to the final in 2022, a penalty defeat to Argentina.
Captain of the 1998 French champions, Deschamps took over as coach in 2012 and announced in January that he would retire this summer. He is trying to become the second coach to win two World Cup titles after Italian Vittorio Pozzo in 1934 and 1938.
“Didier came back with the desire to go as far as possible in this World Cup. This is something which, of course, will also help him to forget these tragic events a little,” Rabiot said. “He smiled a lot. He tried to be enthusiastic, even though I know he’s very affected by his grief. I think he’s trying not to show it, not to convey anything negative to the team.”
Associated Press reporting.
