Deschamps points to Spain as team to beat at World Cup
France coach Didier Deschamps on Monday named Spain as the team to beat at the World Cup as he sought to temper expectations surrounding his own side ahead of their tournament opener against Senegal.
Deschamps will lead France into his fourth and final World Cup as coach when the two-time champions begin their Group I campaign in New Jersey on Tuesday.
Among the favourites in North America, Les Bleus are aiming to become only the second European nation to reach three consecutive World Cup finals, after West Germany between 1982 and 1990.
"France, like six or seven other nations, naturally have their sights set on winning the title, but the road ahead is long and difficult," said Deschamps.
"Obviously, France have the potential to compete at the highest level, given the results in recent World Cups."
France boast an impressive array of attacking talent, including captain Kylian Mbappe, reigning 2025 Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembele and Bayern Munich winger Michael Olise.
However, several experienced figures from previous World Cup campaigns have since retired from international football, including Hugo Lloris, Raphael Varane, Antoine Griezmann and Olivier Giroud.
For Olise and Paris Saint-Germain forward Desire Doue, the tournament will be their first major international competition, while Manchester City playmaker Rayan Cherki and Monaco midfielder Maghnes Akliouche are also World Cup newcomers.
"I have a lot of top-quality players, but for many of them this will be their first World Cup," Deschamps said.
"I'm not going to say that France is stronger than everyone else, but Spain is the clear favourite."
France are looking to put behind them their penalty-shootout defeat to Argentina in the 2022 final, but Deschamps warned against underestimating Senegal in their opening match.
"Senegal are a very, very high-level opponent," he said.
"They are among the best teams in Africa and the world. We know what to expect in this opening match."
Midfielder N'Golo Kante is back at the World Cup after missing the 2022 tournament through injury.
"We saw what happened in 2002," Kante said, referring to France's shock defeat to Senegal in the opening match of that tournament.
"We want a win, not for the sake of revenge, but to get the tournament off to a good start and go as far as possible."
