After getting the better of Senegal (3-1), the Blues continue their journey in the group stage of the 2026 World Cup. Monday evening, they will face Iraq (11 p.m.). An opponent considered to be the weakest in Group I in which the French team is located. Didier Deschamps, however, wanted to warn his players.
The coach held a talk on the subject on Friday. He made sure that his men remained mobilized and did not see themselves looking too good. For this, he recalled some of the recent results of the Iraqis. “Does Iraq mean anything to you? Don’t think of them as a small team because that’s not the case, I can assure you. Do you know Bolivia? Good team, South Americans. They were won there in Mexico (Iraq’s victory against the Bolivians, 2-1, in the play-off final for the 2026 World Cup). »
Then Didier Deschamps continued in the same vein.
“Do you know Spain? A warm-up match, but they still drew against Spain
(1-1). Against Norway, in the 75th minute, they were
(led) 2-1, then they took two at the end. »
Didier Deschamps wants a mobilized and humble group
In his speech, the French technician insisted several times on the importance of not thinking that he has already arrived.
“Let none of you think that it will be easy because we are the French team… There are perhaps other teams who will think that. Big guys who played against teams weaker than Iraq and say : ‘In any case, we will make a difference sooner or later’. Well these big teams didn’t do it and I don’t want that to happen to us. »
Without adding a ton, Didier Deschamps explained that the Iraq team was doing “simple things, but she does them well. » If the French team achieves a second consecutive success, it will validate its participation in the round of 16 of the competition. It remains to be seen where in her group she will finish next.
