Didier Deschamps: "The absolute favorite is Spain, I have no doubt"

Didier Deschamps, the coach of the French national football team, has unequivocally named Spain as the "absolute favorite" to win the upcoming World Cup. Deschamps, whose team are the reigning finalists and were champions in 2018, stated that while France possesses the potential to win, Spain stands out as the clear frontrunner.

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If there is any favorite team, it is Spain.

"If there is any favorite team, it is Spain," Deschamps remarked during a press conference held in Spanish, a language now co-official at FIFA events following player complaints. He praised the Spanish team, against whom France was eliminated in the semifinals of the last European Championship. Deschamps also noted that France is undergoing a generational transition, with many players experiencing the World Cup for the first time, bringing a sense of freshness to the squad.

The tournament's introduction of hydration breaks, lasting around three minutes per period, was also a topic of discussion. Deschamps sees these pauses as beneficial for tactical adjustments, allowing coaches to communicate with players and alter the game's rhythm. "These are four-period games, with the good and the bad. With heat, the breaks are indeed important. In those three minutes, we have the opportunity to have the players close to modify things and stop the rhythm, whether for better or for worse," he explained.

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France obviously has the potential too, although there is a generation that retired and now we have a lot of freshness with players who are competing in the tournament for the first time.

Deschamps addressed the media's surprise at N'golo Kanté being chosen to attend the press conference instead of captain Kylian Mbappé. He emphasized his priority is to protect his players, including Mbappé, citing the travel time and fatigue involved. Kanté, he noted, was a more convenient choice as he wakes up early.

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These are four-period games, with the good and the bad. With heat, the breaks are indeed important. In those three minutes, we have the opportunity to have the players close to modify things and stop the rhythm, whether for better or for worse.

Additionally, Deschamps spoke about Ousmane Dembélé, calling him a deserving player who aims to be decisive, similar to his performances with Paris Saint-Germain, despite past physical issues. The press conference was also marked by a protest from French journalists concerning the imprisonment of Christophe Gleizes, a reporter for So Foot magazine. Deschamps expressed his hope for Gleizes's swift release and return to press conferences.

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My first objective is to protect my players and Mbappé. We took an hour to get here and another to return, the players get tired. Kanté gets up very early, so it was less of a problem for him.