PARIS: France’s new coach Didier Deschamps yesterday 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 favorite 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 Aug. 15 while their first World Cup qualifier is against Finland on Sept. 7.
