Deschamps Absent—France’s Biggest Variable

French head coach Deschamps has returned to France after his mother passed away, and assistant coach Guy Stéphan will lead on-site for this match. This sudden development has become the biggest variable for the French team in this game.

Deschamps has coached the French national team since 2012—more than 14 years. He is one of the most successful managers in French football history: the 2018 World Cup champion, the 2022 World Cup runner-up, and the 2022 UEFA Nations League champion. The France system that Deschamps built has been operating for years, and players’ understanding and execution of tactics have reached a level where the team can run normally even without the head coach on the sidelines. However, any emotional fluctuations and on-the-spot adjustments in major tournaments are still worth watching.

Deschamps’ absence mainly affects the following areas:

Starting lineup decisions: Ahead of the match, the media predicted that France might rotate 6 regular starters. But which specific players to rotate, and how to balance rotation with the need to win—those decisions must be made by Stéphan on-site. Stéphan has worked with Deschamps for many years and knows the tactical system and each player’s characteristics inside out, but the allocation of final decision-making authority may affect the team’s tactical consistency.

In-game adjustment ability: The timing of substitutions and tactical adjustments during the match is one of the head coach’s most important responsibilities. Although Stéphan is experienced, this is his first time independently directing a World Cup match as head coach. When the game becomes tense or they fall behind, whether his adjustments will be timely and effective is an unknown.

Psychological impact: Deschamps’ absence may have a dual effect on the players. On the one hand, players may lack a sense of security without the head coach present; on the other hand, the whole team may rally around a drive to “fight for the head coach.” France’s leaders on the field—Mbappé, Dembélé, Tchouaméni, and others—need to take on more leadership responsibilities.

Judging from historical data, there is not enough of a sample to assess France’s performance when the head coach is absent. But France’s player structure and tactical system are mature enough that even without Deschamps on the sideline, the players know how to play. Ahead of the match, Saliba said: “Deschamps isn’t here, but we’ve practiced the tactics a thousand times over. The 11 players on the pitch know how to play—we fight for the coach.”

If Stéphan can lead the team to victory, it would be the second time in France’s history that they have won all their World Cup group stage matches. The previous time was 1998, when they won the title at home. For France, this goal is both motivation and pressure.

Overall, Deschamps’ absence does increase uncertainty for the French team. But that uncertainty is relative—France’s tactical system and the players’ maturity allow them to “autopilot” to a certain extent. The real question is this: when the match enters a difficult situation, can Stéphan make the right adjustments? The answer to that question may determine the final direction of the match. #挪威VS法国