Deschamps was not present for France's group stage match against Norway the other day. The 57-year-old, who is in his 14th and final year as France's national team coach, had to leave the World Cup in a hurry to fly home to bury his mother.
Didier Deschamps is back for Tuesday's round of 16 match against Sweden in East Rutherford, New Jersey. And the players will do what they can to make life easier for him.
“I feel good”
"It was tough when he told us that his mother had passed away and he had to leave the team to go to France. It came as a bit of a shock," says Milan midfielder Adrien Rabiot.
But Didier came back with a real desire to go as far as he can in this tournament. He has laughed a lot and been very enthusiastic, although I know he is very affected by what has happened. But he is careful not to transfer any of that to us.
At Monday's press conference outside the match arena, Deschamps was available for interviews for the first time since returning to the United States.
"I'm fine. It's good to stay busy, but I'm back as national team captain now and everything is going well in the French national team. For me it was very tough. But it was important for me to go home," Deschamps said.
Clear favorite
France enter the round of 16 as overwhelming favorites. For the French players, a successful World Cup would mean a lot, not least after what happened to Deschamps.
"His loss has been a hard blow but we are very close-knit as a squad and want to try to find something to be happy about together. It's the least we can do," says Adrien Rabiot.
