Deschamps: It's Not Enough to Just Say "We're the Best"

France may have one of the most talented squads heading to the FIFA World Cup 2026™, but Didier Deschamps has no intention of letting that translate into overconfidence.

A wave of optimism — bordering on euphoria — has been building among the French squad in the build-up to the tournament. Defender Lucas Hernandez gave a vivid illustration of the mood when asked about his team's attacking options. "We have a fantastic team. From the goalkeeper to the attack, everything is exceptional. The quality of the forwards is incredible," he told L'Équipe. Asked whether France boasted the best attack in the world, his answer was simple: "Personally, I think yes, of course."

Deschamps had other ideas. Told of the comments at a press conference shortly afterwards, the coach feigned surprise — "Lucas said that?" — before adding: "I'll speak to him right away."

His message was characteristically measured. "Players are more or less susceptible to this. It's not about thinking we're better than we are. Obviously we have the potential, but there are stages ahead of us and our team needs to think about that."

"I have ambition and I want them to have it too — but I don't want us to lose our humility. We will need everything to be stronger than the rest. I won't hide and pretend we're not among the teams with the potential to become world champions. But there are eight or ten others who can say the same thing. It doesn't work by trumpeting: 'We are the most beautiful, we are the strongest.'"

He closed with a pointed observation drawn from experience: "I know from experience — and this isn't specific to footballers — that when a French athlete is placed in a comfort zone, that is when they don't show the best of themselves."

At the World Cup this summer, France are in a group with Senegal, Norway and Iraq.