PARIS (AFP)
France's new coach Didier Deschamps on Monday signed a two year
contract with Les Bleus, with an additional two years should he
succeed in qualifying the side for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
The 43-year-old, who captained France to the 1998 World Cup title
and Euro 2000, put pen to paper 24 hours after being named as the
successor to Laurent Blanc, who stood down after Euro 2012.
Deschamps, who became the favourite to succeed his fellow World
Cup and Euro winning team-mate Blanc when he quit as coach of
Marseille last Monday, appeared at a press conference alongside
France Football Federation (FFF) president Noel Le Graet.
The French football chief confirmed: "He (Deschamps) will be
manager for two years with a further two years if we qualify for
the World Cup."
Deschamps, who since hanging up his boots has had spells managing
Serie A giants Juventus and Monaco, told the press conference:
"The players no longer have the right to make mistakes."
That comment is a reference to France's implosion after a player
mutiny at the 2010 World Cup, and the renewed discord in the camp
at Euro 2012 which ended prematurely for Blanc's men when they
were beaten by eventual winners Spain in the quarter-finals.
Deschamps' first task will be to prepare the squad for a high
profile friendly with Copa America champions and World Cup
semi-finalists Uruguay in Le Havre on August 15 while their first
World Cup qualifier is against Finland on September 7.
However, with just one automatic qualifying spot up for grabs in
the shape of group winners, France face a tough task to take that
one as two-time European champions and World Cup holders Spain
are in the same group.
Belarus and Georgia are the other two sides.
