sport news 'I was NEVER worried': France boss Didier Deschamps says he did not fear the ... trends now
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With the smile that acknowledged a hoodoo had been laid to rest came a warning that France are primed to consign another statistic to history.
Didier Deschamps was overjoyed as he reflected on a 2-1 dismissal of Denmark that enabled France to become the first team to reach the last 16 but he left nobody in any doubt the only aim of his squad is to leave Qatar cradling the trophy with which they arrived.
Winning the World Cup had been a millstone around the necks of the last three defending champions with Italy (2010), Spain (2014) and Germany (2018) failing dismally to negotiate the group stages. All were eliminated in ignominy.
France manager Dider Deschamps (middle) was beaming after his side's latest victory
Deschamps (middle) has helped shape France superstar Kylian Mbappe (left)
A previous generation of French footballers were familiar with this story, too, as the heroes of 1998 collapsed in 2002 in Japan and South Korea, sent packing within three games. There was never any prospect, however, of history repeating for this extravagantly gifted collective.
Having swatted Australia aside 4-1 in their
