France in Crisis, Mbappe's Replacement Dilemma, Deschamps Stands Firm After World Cup Qualifying
17 November 2025
France Clinches World Cup Qualification in a Testing Qualifier
France secured a disciplined 3-1 victory over Azerbaijan in Baku, finishing their European qualifying campaign with 16 points. The result allowed Les Bleus to finish on top of Group 4, completing five wins and one draw while remaining undefeated as they head toward the World Cup.
Historically, this win keeps France on their long streak of reaching the World Cup, marking their eighth consecutive qualification and seventeenth overall. The team has lifted the trophy twice (1998, 2018) and has earned silver on two occasions (2006, 2022) along with bronze medals in 1958 and 1986.
The match unfolded with some early adversity as Azerbaijan opened the scoring, but France steadied the ship and responded with a measured display. Coach Didier Deschamps later commented that the opening phase was difficult, though the team recovered well and finished strong to seal the win.
After the game, Deschamps noted the importance of easing the squad’s workload late in the season. He explained that some extra rest was necessary to guard against fatigue and injuries, especially given the congested calendar and the upcoming World Cup preparations.
Key insights: Deschamps highlighted the impact of giving all squad members minutes in the recent qualifiers, excluding only the third-choice goalkeeper. He emphasized that the information gathered would feed into the team’s plans for the coming campaign and the World Cup.
On VAR decisions that affected the match, the coach acknowledged three intervening calls, a rare occurrence that underscored the evolving nature of officiating in modern football. He also acknowledged the early setback but stressed that the team’s resilience in the face of pressure was crucial to securing the result.
Deschamps praised the attacking options, noting that France still has the capacity to create chances and score at a high rate. He singled out young winger Magnis Akliouch for his second-half contribution and hoped his development would continue alongside other top talents in the squad.
The lineup featured the absence of Mbappe, Olise, and Dembélé due to injuries, underscoring the depth and options available to the coach. Deschamps asserted that while the attack has premium talents, the team can rely on a broader pool to maintain performance levels.
Looking ahead, Deschamps discussed the World Cup draw, set for early December. He indicated that the coaching staff would study potential opponents and finalize a base camp after the draw, noting that some groups might be more suitable due to shorter travel distances and temperate climates.
Deschamps, in his 57th year as manager since 2012, confirmed his plan to step down after the World Cup run concludes. He has led France in 174 matches, delivering 112 wins, 32 draws, and 30 defeats, with 372 goals scored and 164 conceded.
France’s achievements under his leadership include the 2018 World Cup, the 2021 UEFA Nations League, and silver medals at Euro 2016 in France and the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, along with bronze at the 2025 Nations League in Germany.
In brief, Les Bleus demonstrated resilience, depth, and strategic flexibility as they closed the qualifying chapter, with an eye toward a challenging, but potentially rewarding World Cup next year.
Punchline 1: If squad rotation were a sport, Deschamps would have won the World Cup in a record-breaking overtime—twist the roster, win the game, repeat. Punchline 2: France’s strategy is simple: keep the opposition guessing and let gravity do the work—because the ball always finds the back of the net when it’s in the hands of a well-rested team.
