Arrived on the bench of the French football team in 2012 after the passage of Laurent Blanc, Didier Deschamps marked the history of the selection by leading his players to the title of world champion in 2018. Also winner of the League of nations 2021, the strong man of the Blues has however experienced a certain erosion of his popularity rating for some time. In office until 2026, he knows that in the shadows, Zinedine Zidane is waiting for the place to become available. A prospect which would not reassure him, according to Daniel Riolo.
The journalist of RMC explained his theory on the subject Tuesday evening. “Leave his place to Zidane, he’s going to kill himself. Everything he did in the French team will be swept away just when we see Zidane with the tracksuit. » For the observer, Didier Deschamps would therefore be frightened at the idea that his fourteen years of work and results would be forgotten, or at least put aside, as soon as the potential nomination of “ZZ” was announced. A tough prospect to face.
The image of the Olympics
Returning to the difference in popularity between the two former France 98 teammates, Daniel Riolo took the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games as an example.
“The image at the Olympics, when you have Zidane appearing and then there is Nadal and everything. You’re there, you say to yourself: ‘Zidane, OK, but why didn’t we ask Deschamps?’ This is Deschamps’ biggest achievement in the history of French football. Well there you go. He didn’t go there, he was in front of the TV. »
Singled out for his management of the Antoine Griezmann case, after the former vice-captain of the Blues announced his international retirement ten days ago, Didier Deschamps was even whistled during the French team’s match played in Lyon on September 9 against Belgium. Not easy to manage for the coach who still continues his mission. With the shadow of Zinedine Zidane around him.
