Didier Deschamps is not letting his team get comfortable. Not after a 3-0 win. Not after Kylian Mbappé looked like the best player on earth for 45 minutes. Not with Iraq up next on France’s schedule in Group I.
France looked sluggish in the first half against Senegal before basically flipping a switch after halftime. Mbappé scored twice, Bradley Barcola added another, and the scoreline ended up flattering the defending champions as much as it reflected their actual dominance. But Deschamps has been around long enough to know that one good half doesn’t win a World Cup.
“We must not underestimate the Iraqi team. They are not a small team,” Deschamps said. “They have qualities and have shown them in matches against Spain and Bolivia. We may make some changes, but our goal will remain to achieve victory. The match against Iraq will not be an easy one. We must not think it will be easy.”
What Iraq Brings to the Table
Iraq lost 4-1 to Norway in their opener, but the score doesn’t tell the full story. They were solid in the first half, grabbed a goal from Aymen Hussein, and only unraveled after individual mistakes and Norway’s overwhelming attack took over. There’s something there worth respecting.
Deschamps broke it down pretty clearly. Iraq runs a 4-4-2 with quality forwards who know their roles. Hussein is clinical in front of goal. The team has chemistry that holds even when the lineup shifts game to game. Coach Graham Arnold has built real belief in that group, and that can be a dangerous thing for a heavy favorite overlooking an opponent.
The Mbappé vs. Dembélé Balancing Act
France’s attack is stupid deep. Mbappé is chasing history — his two goals against Senegal pushed him to 14 at the World Cup, past Pelé and within striking distance of Klose and Messi’s all-time record. Meanwhile, Ousmane Dembélé is coming off back-to-back monster seasons with PSG, including a Ballon d’Or and a Champions League repeat.
Dembélé started as the No. 10 against Senegal but struggled in the first half, which Deschamps attributed to Senegal packing the midfield and France failing to stretch the field early. “Ousmane plays as a forward at Paris Saint-Germain, but the situation is different here,” Deschamps said. “Once we managed to open up the play a bit and forced their full-backs to spread out, it created more space.”
The Bigger Picture: Spain Lurks
France is one of four heavy favorites alongside Spain, Argentina and England. If they win the group, the bracket math points toward a potential meeting with Spain before the final. And Deschamps is very aware of what Lamine Yamal does to a game.
“I have no doubt. The Spanish team is stronger with him on the field,” Deschamps said. “When a player like him plays, he completely changes the rhythm of the game. He forces defenders to adapt, creates spaces where there are none, and brings an unpredictability that is hard to control.”
France and Spain meeting in the knockout rounds would be the kind of matchup that defines a tournament. Two of the deepest attacking rosters in the world, a coaching chess match, and stakes that keep climbing. But France has to get through Iraq first. Deschamps is making sure nobody in his locker room forgets that.
The game kicks off at 20:00 BST on BBC One, iPlayer and the BBC Sport website.
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