France head coach Didier Deschamps has spoken candidly about the emotional toll of his mother’s passing during the World Cup. The legendary tactician took a brief leave of absence from the squad to be with his family before making a quick return to lead Les Bleus into the knockout stages.
Speaking ahead of France’s round of 32 clash against Sweden, Deschamps revealed the depth of his grief following the death of his mother. The World Cup winner was forced to temporarily leave the camp in the United States to return to France, missing the final group stage fixture to attend to family matters during an incredibly difficult period.
"How am I? I'm doing okay. Obviously I had complicated days where I was devastated," Deschamps admitted while speaking to M6. "But for my own personal well-being and for the good of the France team, I had to leave. Afterwards, they did what was necessary."
Despite the immense personal loss, Deschamps has chosen to channel his focus back into his professional duties. He believes that the rigours of a World Cup campaign and the intense preparation required for the knockout rounds have provided a necessary distraction as he processes his mourning.
"Since I've been back, I've got back into this preparation for this match against Sweden," the 57-year-old continued. "It’s good to have my head occupied." His return has been met with significant warmth from the playing squad, who offered their full support to their long-serving manager.
While Deschamps was away, his coaching staff and players ensured that the standards did not drop. Les Bleus secured a victory over Norway 4-1 to maintain a perfect record in Group I, a feat that pleased the manager as he prepares for the high-stakes environment of the latter rounds of the tournament.
"It was our objective to have this first place. Having this victory with nine points, even if it doesn't give a bonus, we had never done it," Deschamps explained. "It's always a good thing to win matches. The first objective is achieved."
The win over Norway allowed France to cruise into the round of 32 with maximum momentum.
