(AP) — France coach Didier Deschamps is back with Les Bleus for their round of 32 match against Sweden at the World Cup on Tuesday after traveling to Europe for his mother’s funeral.
Deschamps learned of his mother’s death the day after France’s win over Iraq on June 22, which clinched advancement from the group stage.
He missed Friday’s victory over Norway.
I’m good, and it’s good to be busy since Friday evening when I arrived back in the United States,” Dechamps said Monday through a translator.
France swept its group matches for the first time since 1998, joined by Argentina and Mexico as the only nations to win all three games.
Seeking their third title after 1998 and 2018, Les Blues would face Germany or Paraguay in the round of 16 if they get past the Swedes.
And for me and for the French national team it was important that I left.
They did what they had to do,” Deschamps said.
“And now we’re preparing a competition within the competition.” Assistant Guy Stéphan led the team to the 4-1 win over Norway in Deschamps’ absence.
Deschamps coached France to the 2018 title and to the 2022 final, a penalty-kick loss to Argentina.