France’s players of African origin will be proud to represent the continent when they face Croatia in Sunday’s World Cup final, according to Les Bleus’ coach Didier Deschamps. 14 members of France’s squad, including Paul Pogba, Kylian Mbappe and Samuel Umtiti, are of African origin, and Deschamps says that these players still feel attachment to their countries of origin.
“It has always been the case that the French team has always had players from Africa and from other countries and territories, and not just in football but in other sports,” Deschamps told journalists at Saturday’s pre-match press conference in Moscow.
“They are all French and they are all proud to be French,” he added, “but through their origins, through their childhood, they have friends, they have families in these countries so they have a certain attachment to these countries and a certain pride that these people will see them play in a World Cup Final.”
France haven’t won a World Cup for 20 years since they defeated Brazil 3-0 on home soil, but despite being beaten on penalties by Italy in 2006, will surely fancy their chances of ending their wait for the title at the Luzhniki Stadium on Sunday.