Deschamps Says Nothing Compares To Winning World Cup

France head coach Didier Deschamps has declared that no achievement in football can match the feeling of becoming a FIFA World Cup winner.

Deschamps knows that experience better than most. He captained France to their first World Cup triumph on home soil in 1998 before guiding Les Bleus to a second title as head coach at the 2018 tournament in Russia.

Reflecting on both successes, the 57-year-old said the memories remain unmatched despite a career filled with major honours at club and international level.

“What happened in 1998 and 2018 will always stay with me, but nothing can change the past. What matters now is what we do next,” Deschamps told FIFA.com.

“My role may have changed between 1998 and 2018, but I was there both times. Both experiences were truly magical.

“I’ve been lucky enough to win trophies at club level, the [UEFA] Champions League, etc, but nothing beats being a world champion. Your name stays the same, but two words are added forever: world champion.”

Deschamps is preparing for one final World Cup campaign before stepping down as France manager after the 2026 tournament.

A successful run could see him make football history. Alongside Mario Zagallo and Franz Beckenbauer, Deschamps remains one of only three men to have won the World Cup as both a player and a coach.

Another title would place him in a category of his own. He would become the first manager to win the World Cup twice after already lifting the trophy as a player. It would also mark a third successive World Cup final appearance for France.

Despite entering the tournament as one of the favourites, Deschamps insisted expectations alone count for little.

“We’ve built up expectations because of our results,” said the former Juventus coach.

“We lifted the trophy in 2018 and reached the final in 2022, so our supporters are naturally expecting to see France [still in the running] by mid-July.

“We’re one of the 10 or 12 nations that can realistically set their sights on becoming world champions. But do you know how many there will be at the end? Just one! That means at least 11 disappointed nations.”

France have been drawn in Group I alongside Senegal, Norway and Iraq as Deschamps bids to end his reign with another World Cup crown.