World Cup 2022

Revealed | Didier Deschamps’ halftime team talk during the World Cup final

Though France would ultimately go on to lose the 2022 final, Les Bleus forced extra-time and the drama of a penalty shootout after a second-half comeback to reverse their poor first half


The 2022 World Cup final will go down as arguably the greatest bookend to the world’s most popular sporting event in history.

Though this will be hotly debated for years to come as part of the post-tournament discussion surrounding the Arab world’s first job as host, what cannot be denied is that the drama that unfolded in the eight stadia around Qatar has, from start to finish, kept billions on the edge of their seat for a month of mid-season action that will be tough to top moving forward.

For former defending champions France, Les Bleus went from the top of the world four years ago to having to witness Lionel Messi finally win the one trophy that had long been elusive across his storied club career. But despite their penalty shootout loss, Kylian Mbappé and co. fought back from a two-goal deficient come the halftime interval to force extra time before trying to take their chances from 12 yards out.

And according to French outlet BeFootbal, a portion of what head coach Didier Deschamp’s said to rally his troops during the mid-way stoppage has been revealed.

“Do you know the difference between them and us? It’s because they are playing a World Cup final! We don’t play it!”

What Deschamps said rang true, with the South American giants jumping to a 1-0 lead in the 23rd minute courtesy of a Messi penalty before doubling their advantage thirteen minutes later through friend and clubmate Ángel Di María.

Just when Argentina was coasting in the latter stages of the second half, Mbappé bagged a quick strike brace in the 80th and 81st minute to force extra time where Lionel Scaloni’s men restored a one-goal advantage in the 108th minute giving Messi his second goal on the night, only for Mbappé to come up again when it mattered most to complete his hat-trick and sole possession of the golden boot with just two minutes remaining.

Both nations played out drama football pitch that has rarely ever been seen before, and certainly may not be seen again for years in a World Cup final, but for what it is worth, Deschamps seemingly deserves a fair bit of credit for inspiring his men to fight back while almost securing immortality.

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Andrew Thompson

US-based Football writer. German football guru with a wealth of experience in youth development and analysis. Data aficionado. Happily championing the notion that Americans have a knowledgeable voice in the beautiful game.


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