DOHA
\nFrance\u2019s World Cup run is turning into a triumph for coach Didier Deschamps, who has won over those who felt he had stayed in charge too long and is within touching distance of another final.
\nVictory over England on Saturday means France now face Morocco in the last four on Wednesday, and whatever happens there, Deschamps will be free to decide if he wants to extend his 10-year spell in charge.
\n\u201cThe ball is in my court and I will decide. I will be here for the semi-final and then we\u2019ll see. One thing at a time,\u201d said Deschamps after fulfilling the objective set out for him by French Football Federation president Noel Le Graet. \u201cThe president is happy. Lots of people are happy. But I want to savour being back in the last four. I am thinking about Wednesday, not about other things.\u201d
\nDeschamps was appointed in 2012 and some felt he should have bowed out on a high after France\u2019s 2018 World Cup triumph.
\nWhat followed was a disappointing performance at Euro 2020, when they lost in the last 16 despite a return for Karim Benzema from the international wilderness.
\nWith Zinedine Zidane available and seemingly ready to become France\u2019s next coach, the World Cup in Qatar has arguably been Deschamps\u2019 greatest challenge yet.
\nThe holders appeared diminished by injuries coming into the tournament, deprived of starting midfielders Paul Pogba and N\u2019Golo Kante and then of Benzema before a ball had been kicked.
\nMany wondered if France would go the way of the past three reigning champions, Italy, Spain and Germany, who were all knocked out of the next World Cup in the group phase.
\n\u201cWe\u2019ll admit that we had doubted Didier Deschamps a little bit. We wondered if he hadn\u2019t stayed too long, if he still had his mojo,\u201d said the daily Le Parisien in an editorial on Sunday.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
DOHA France\u2019s World Cup run is turning into a triumph for coach Didier Deschamps, who has won over those who felt he had stayed in charge too long and is within touching distance of another final. Victory over England on Saturday means France now face Morocco in the last four on Wednesday, and whatever happens […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-300927","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-sports"},"yoast_head":"\n