“I f there’s one wish I have, it’s for you to ask my players about the opponents, about football,” Didier Deschamps stated to reporters following the announcement of France’s World Cup roster. “I understand that you might feel obliged to ask other questions, but they’re not there to answer them.”
The 57-year-old coach is navigating a challenging landscape, fielding inquiries related to political matters beyond his control as he prepares for his final tournament in charge. Deschamps aims to shield his players from excessive media scrutiny while acknowledging their awareness of the broader political climate surrounding the competition.
“The geopolitical situation is complex,” he remarked, “but that doesn’t make it a taboo subject. We talk about everything, whether it’s the players among themselves or between us.”
He was also questioned about Kylian Mbappé’s recent remarks criticizing the far right during an interview with Vanity Fair. With the upcoming presidential elections in France, the Real Madrid forward reiterated his disapproval of Marine Le Pen’s National Rally party. “I know what it means and what consequences it can have for my country when people like them come to power,” Mbappé expressed.
Deschamps supported Mbappé’s choice to voice his opinions: “You have freedom of expression, and so do my players. I’m not going to tell them not to speak. They are well aware that there are sensitive topics, they are citizens.” However, he emphasized that he would “There might be pros and cons, but what I’m interested in is Kylian, who he is and the footballer he is,” offer his own commentary on such matters.
“But he is also a citizen, who is allowed to feel affected. It will spark debate but he’d be criticised either way, whether he speaks out or not. The only judgment I will make is based on what happens on the pitch.” Deschamps continued. “which does not correspond to France’s values”
Mbappé continues a tradition among French players who have challenged the far right. Zinedine Zidane famously urged voters to reject Jean-Marie Le Pen during the 2002 presidential election, stating that his party does not align with France’s values. Lilian Thuram was even more outspoken in his opposition to Le Pen, who frequently criticized the national team for its diverse player backgrounds.
Les Bleus’ opposition resurfaced during Euro 2024, which coincided with snap parliamentary elections in France. These elections were called by Emmanuel Macron shortly after the National Rally topped that year’s European elections.
Marcus Thuram, son of Lilian, was the first to call on his compatriots to “It’s not a matter of being scared or otherwise. Everyone is entitled to think and to say what they want, but you do have to think about it.” against the far right as the elections approached. A few days later, Mbappé echoed his teammate’s sentiments, cautioning against supporting “create issues and tensions” who are “You are playing for all French people,”
Le Pen’s party finished third in the parliamentary runoff, trailing a coalition of leftist parties and another of Macron’s allies. This outcome, which occurred just days before the semi-final against Spain, was celebrated by several French players on social media.
However, Mbappé’s recent statements have elicited mixed reactions within the French football community. “Once you take a stand, you fall out with half of the world.” remarked his former Paris Saint-Germain teammate Presnel Kimpembe on the radio station RTL. “It’s not a matter of being scared or otherwise. Everyone is entitled to think and to say what they want, but you do have to think about it.”
Others have criticized the forward for potentially diverting attention from the tournament. Christophe Dugarry, a World Cup winner and pundit for RMC, contended that the comments could “create issues and tensions.” While acknowledging the courage behind Mbappé’s statement, he expressed concern over the possible “consequences” for the French team.
Michel Platini echoed this sentiment, advising on RTL that Mbappé should maintain political neutrality as captain. “You are playing for all French people,” Platini said. “Once you take a stand, you fall out with half of the world.” So far, Mbappé has chosen not to heed their counsel.
This tournament does not coincide with a national election, but next year’s presidential vote looms large. The presumptive National Rally candidate, Jordan Bardella, consistently leads in polls and appears favored to succeed Macron.
Despite Deschamps’ wishes, it will be challenging for Les Bleus to avoid political discussions, whether regarding domestic issues or those related to the United States, where they have established their training base in Boston. As the team’s de facto spokesperson, Mbappé will undoubtedly understand that his public appearances will be closely examined for reasons beyond his performance on the field.
