Despite possessing high potential, Deschamps does not consider France to be the top favorite for the World Cup.

The first round of Group I matches in the 2026 World Cup will take place, with France traveling to the Metropolitan Life Stadium to challenge Senegal. Didier Deschamps stated that while the "Les Bleus" squad possesses a high level of ability, he does not believe his team is the top favorite to win this World Cup.

In last week's friendly match, France defeated Northern Ireland 3-1 thanks to a hat-trick from Olise, securing a victory to prepare for the World Cup.

France coach Didier Deschamps said at a press conference, "If I had to pick just one favorite, it would be Spain. France has a very high level of squad potential, but the World Cup is a long journey."

"At the same time, our team is also going through a transition period. There are many outstanding players in the team, but for many of them, this will be their first World Cup. I don't think France is stronger than other teams, but without a doubt, the biggest favorite to win is Spain."

Speaking about their opponent Senegal, Deschamps said, "Senegal has proven their strength; they are a very high-level team. But we will give the same respect and importance to everyone we face. However, it must be acknowledged that Senegal is one of the strongest teams in Africa, and also one of the best teams in football."

Regarding the form of Paris Saint-Germain striker Ousmane Dembélé, Deschamps said, "He joined the national team at a very young age, but due to injuries, he has experienced many setbacks in his career. At the club level, players play almost every three days. His performance this season, and the Ballon d'Or that rightfully belonged to him, demonstrate his ability."

“He is just as focused as all his teammates and is eager to be the one to decide the game. In fact, he often did that during his time at Paris Saint-Germain. He also experienced some physical problems in the past season, which caused him to miss a lot of games.”

Deschamps continued, "We gave him enough time, both physically and mentally, to recover from the emotions following the Champions League final and smoothly transition into his new form. If Dembele can perform at his best, he will be a very important presence for France."

Image source: Internet