Mbappé and Deschamps Reflect on France’s Hard-Fought Victory
France began their World Cup campaign with a hard-fought victory, and both striker Kylian Mbappé and head coach Didier Deschamps shared their reflections with broadcaster M6 after the final whistle.
Mbappé emphasized the importance of composure in tournament football, acknowledging the challenges of securing wins on the world stage.
‘It gives us a bit more peace of mind, although you’re never really relaxed at a World Cup,’ he said.
‘We’ve seen it with the other teams; winning is never easy. It wasn’t straightforward today but we know we’re capable of scoring at any moment. We have to stay calm and composed, stick to what we need to do, because everything happens so quickly at a World Cup. Now our focus shifts to the match against Iraq.’
Deschamps echoed the sense of relief, highlighting the tactical adjustments that proved decisive.
‘It’s a bit of a relief. We were a little apprehensive at the start. Changing Ousmane [Dembélé] and Michael [Olise]’s positions made a big difference. It’s always important to win your opening match. That’s the magic of football when you get to share those emotions. It’s only the first game but we’re going to enjoy it.’
