TIL Desk Sports/ France midfielder Blaise Matuidi has praised French coach Didier Deschamps for moulding a team “in his own image” as the former world and European champions prepare for Sunday’s FIFA World Cup final against Croatia.
France are the bookmakers’ favorites to win the clash at Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium after they showed impressive defensive discipline under their 1998 World Cup-winning coach, who was himself renowned as a no-nonsense midfielder. “He has created a team in his own image and I think that’s important,” Matuidi told a press conference on Friday.
“He’s trying to recreate his glorious past as a player and so far everything is working. It (France’s progress to the final) hasn’t happened by accident.” France advanced to their third World Cup decider in 20 years by taking top spot in Group C before winning their knockout stage matches against Argentina, Uruguay and Belgium, each without needing extra time.
Croatia, meanwhile, have had a grueling path to the final, with all of their three knockout matches — against Denmark, Russia and England — going to extra time. On top of that, Zlatko Dalic’s men also have one less day to recover from their semi-final.
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