France secured their place in the upcoming World Cup with a commanding 4-0 victory over Ukraine at the Parc des Princes, though the celebratory mood was tempered by the poignant anniversary of the 13 November attacks that occurred exactly a decade earlier.
A Bittersweet Celebration in Paris
Manager Didier Deschamps described the atmosphere as "heavy and oppressive" given the historical significance of the date, with the match taking place ten years to the day after the terrorist attacks that began at the Stade de France. "It would have been good if we could have avoided playing on this day," Deschamps admitted before kickoff.
This marked Deschamps' final competitive match on French soil as manager, with the World Cup in North America set to conclude his historic 14-year tenure regardless of the outcome. Despite claiming "I'm not nostalgic. I don't look to the past," his recent squad selections suggest otherwise as he balances experience with renewal.
Deschamps' Selection Dilemma
The France manager has increasingly turned to trusted veterans while attempting what he calls "oxygenisation" - integrating new talent. Notable recalls include N'Golo Kanté despite his move to Saudi Arabia, Kingsley Coman, and Florian Thauvin after a six-year absence.
The starting lineup against Ukraine boasted 397 combined caps, with captain Kylian Mbappé leading the way at 93 appearances. This represents a significant experience deficit compared to the World Cup final side against Argentina, which featured 664 caps between them.
Deschamps faces particular challenges in attack, where Kylian Mbappé has permanently assumed the number nine role for both club and country but presents a different profile to predecessor Olivier Giroud.
Second-Half Surge Seals Qualification
The first half revealed ongoing issues with France's attacking cohesion. Mbappé himself described the initial 45 minutes as "laborious," with Deschamps noting a "lack of combinations" and significant gaps between forwards.
Half-time adjustments produced dramatic results, with France scoring four goals in just 33 minutes. Mbappé netted twice, bringing his international tally to 55 goals - just two shy of Olivier Giroud's all-time record for Les Bleus.
Michael Olise and Hugo Ekitiké also found the net, with Deschamps particularly praising the impact of substitutes. "Akliouche and Ekitiké coming on really helped us," the manager noted.
The Road to the World Cup
While France qualified comfortably without losing a match in their group, questions remain about the team's attacking structure ahead of the World Cup. Deschamps acknowledged that "the functioning of this forward line looks unresolved" without Giroud's selfless link-up play.
The manager expressed confidence in his captain, stating: "He has rediscovered his best level. I've always said that the national team will be stronger with Kylian and, with Kylian at this level, it will be difficult for opponents."
However, if France are to become only the third nation after West Germany and Brazil to reach three consecutive World Cup finals, Deschamps must solve the puzzle of how to best surround Mbappé with complementary talents who can amplify his strengths.
With the World Cup approaching rapidly, Deschamps' final masterpiece with the French national team remains intriguingly unfinished, presenting both challenges and opportunities as he seeks to perfect his squad composition.
