The distinctions between becoming a World Cup finalist as a player, and reaching the same stage as a manager are many, according to Didier Deschamps.
It is worth paying attention when he describes what they are, because there are not many who can speak with authority on those twin experiences.
Twenty years ago last Thursday, Deschamps accepted the World Cup trophy as captain of France, and lifted it into the air with a huge, slightly wonky and amiable grin on his face, a place in history cemented.
Two decades on, he is the manager of the favourites to take France to their second world title.
His hair is thinner now, and the smile less often glimpsed. “It is a very different experience,” Deschamps said.
“Yes, the pleasure is there, the adrenaline is there, but it’s all about the players. As coaches, we have a limited importance. We are here for the players.”
Deschamps has undoubtedly served those players ably in taking France to within 90 minutes of the greatest prize in sport, to within one match of his joining Mario Zagallo, of Brazil, and Franz Beckenbauer, the German, on the brief list of World Cup winners as player and coach.
But having crossed almost every hurdle, Deschamps still hears criticism of his style, suggestions he should be serving the players better, that, given the high standards and many different strengths of the young attacking talent he has at his disposal, Les Bleus still look banal.
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Of their six matches in Russia, France have won five, but just one of them by a margin of more than a single goal. They drew 0-0 with Denmark, when a draw was all they needed and conspired with the Danes to deliver probably the dullest match of a thrilling tournament.
From the opposition they have stymied most effectively came some searing words.
Belgium's Thibaut Courtois - “France are an anti-football team” - and Eden Hazard - “I’d prefer to lose playing like Belgium than win playing like France“ - spoke with the bitterness of losing semi-finalists last week, but those taking a longer view have also deemed Deschamps excessively conservative.
He will not mind that, although he can come across as more thin-skinned, at least when dealing with the media, than you might imagine after a lifetime bearing suggestions he is always the mundane element in his most successful teams.
Eric Cantona, an attacking maverick France felt they could do without in the later 1990s, referred to Deschamps, who buzzed around in Bleus midfields behind Cantona, as a “water-carrier” as a player.
Some have called him "lucky" that he entered this World Cup, his second as a manager, with a contract that extends to 2020, six years from when he took over the role from Laurent Blanc.
Deschamps, with a young France, only reached the last eight in Brazil four years ago; and two summers later seemed to squander a handsome opportunity, when, at the Stade de France, as hosts, Les Bleus lost the European Championship final to Portugal.
So what can Deschamps claim credit for? Actually, some very bold management decisions for a so-called conservative coach.
He effectively banished Karim Benzema, the most decorated French striker of his generation, after striker and coach had fallen out badly.
He stimulated parts of Paul Pogba, at least this month, that some club managers have struggled to find.
Pogba, diligent in defence, alert to the best use of his fine passing, has looked more consistently the complete midfielder his price-tag implies than he did for much of the last 10 months with Manchester United.
Deschamps has been functional yes, but the formula works. “I think the coach deserves a lot of credit,” says Hugo Lloris, the France captain.
“Certainly, we adapt a bit the way we play according to the opponent. And the players respect what the manager has said. We have the talent, the belief, the spirit to shape the way things have gone.”
And this is distinctively Deschamps’ France now. It was he who gave Pogba, Antoine Griezmann and N’Golo Kante their international debuts, and he who has aligned a sturdy defence in spite of setbacks in the lead-up to the competition, notably injuries to Laurent Koscielny and Benjamin Mendy.
He has kept faith in Olivier Giroud, the centre-forward who will never move with Benzema's feline grace and has no goals so far in this World Cup, but provides a certain muscular balance in a forward line containing the teenage zest of Kylian Mbappe and the quick feet of Griezmann.
Deschamps, or "DD" to his public, may never be quite as A-list as some want from a national hero. But his dogmas have been France’s strength.
“I’m not too bothered about image,” he says. “There are better coaches than me out there, I’m sure, but there are some not as good, too.”
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Museum of the Future in numbers
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- 100 species of trees and plants dot the gardens
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
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- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
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- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Monster Hunter: World
Capcom
PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Match info
Uefa Nations League A Group 4
England 2 (Lingard 78', Kane 85')
Croatia 1 (Kramaric 57')
Man of the match: Harry Kane (England)
UAE%20FIXTURES
%3Cp%3EWednesday%2019%20April%20%E2%80%93%20UAE%20v%20Kuwait%3Cbr%3EFriday%2021%20April%20%E2%80%93%20UAE%20v%20Hong%20Kong%3Cbr%3ESunday%2023%20April%20%E2%80%93%20UAE%20v%20Singapore%3Cbr%3EWednesday%2026%20April%20%E2%80%93%20UAE%20v%20Bahrain%3Cbr%3ESaturday%2029%20April%20%E2%80%93%20Semi-finals%3Cbr%3ESunday%2030%20April%20%E2%80%93%20Third%20position%20match%3Cbr%3EMonday%201%20May%20%E2%80%93%20Final%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
'Avengers: Infinity War'
Dir: The Russo Brothers
Starring: Chris Evans, Chris Pratt, Tom Holland, Robert Downey Junior, Scarlett Johansson, Elizabeth Olsen
Four stars
THE LOWDOWN
Photograph
Rating: 4/5
Produced by: Poetic License Motion Pictures; RSVP Movies
Director: Ritesh Batra
Cast: Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Sanya Malhotra, Farrukh Jaffar, Deepak Chauhan, Vijay Raaz
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champioons League semi-final, first leg:
Liverpool 5
Salah (35', 45 1'), Mane (56'), Firmino (61', 68')
Roma 2
Dzeko (81'), Perotti (85' pen)
Second leg: May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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UAE
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Japan
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Norway
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Canada
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Singapore
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Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
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The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Chef Nobu's advice for eating sushi
“One mistake people always make is adding extra wasabi. There is no need for this, because it should already be there between the rice and the fish.
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KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
SPECS
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RACE CARD
4pm Al Bastakiya – Listed (TB) $150,000 (Dirt) 1,900m
4.35pm Dubai City Of Gold – Group 2 (TB) $228,000 (Turf) 2,410m
5.10pm Mahab Al Shimaal – Group 3 (TB) $228,000 (D) 1,200m
5.45pm Burj Nahaar – Group 3 (TB) $228,000 (D) 1,600m
6.20pm Jebel Hatta – Group 1 (TB) $260,000 (T) 1,800m
6.55pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 – Group 1 (TB) $390,000 (D) 2,000m
7.30pm Nad Al Sheba – Group 3 (TB) $228,000 (T) 1,200m
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RESULTS
5pm Wathba Stallions Cup Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
Winner Munfared, Fernando Jara (jockey), Ahmed Al Mehairbi (trainer)
5.30pm Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner Sawt Assalam, Szczepan Mazur, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
6pm Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 (D) 1,800m
Winner Dergham Athbah, Pat Dobbs, Mohamed Daggash
6.30pm Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (D) 1,800m
Winner Rajee, Fernando Jara, Majed Al Jahouri
7pm Conditions (PA) Dh80,000 (D) 1,800m
Winner Kerless Del Roc, Fernando Jara, Ahmed Al Mehairbi
7.30pm Handicap (TB) Dh70,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner Pharoah King, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson
8pm Conditions (PA) Dh85,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner Sauternes Al Maury, Dane O’Neill, Doug Watson
RESULTS
5pm: Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Racing Festival Purebred Arabian Cup Conditions (PA) Dh 200,000 (Turf) 1,600m
Winner: Hameem, Adrie de Vries (jockey), Abdallah Al Hammadi (trainer)
5.30pm: Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Cup Conditions (PA) Dh 200,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner: Winked, Connor Beasley, Abdallah Al Hammadi
6pm: Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan National Day Cup Listed (TB) Dh 380,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner: Boerhan, Ryan Curatolo, Nicholas Bachalard
6.30pm: Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan National Day Group 3 (PA) Dh 500,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner: AF Alwajel, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
7pm: Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan National Day Jewel Crown Group 1 (PA) Dh 5,000,000 (T) 2,200m
Winner: Messi, Pat Dobbs, Timo Keersmaekers
7.30pm: Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Racing Festival Handicap (PA) Dh 150,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner: Harrab, Ryan Curatolo, Jean de Roualle
8pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh 100,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner: AF Alareeq, Connor Beasley, Ahmed Al Mehairbi
MATCH INFO
Euro 2020 qualifier
Russia v Scotland, Thursday, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports
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Engine: 2.5-litre, turbocharged 5-cylinder
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On sale: 2022