Deschamps urges France 'not to set limits'
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
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Eager to cement a strong start to life at the France helm, Didier Deschamps feels "massively proud" to be in charge for his country's March qualifiers against Georgia and Spain.
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No stranger to success with France as a player, Didier Deschamps has hit the ground running in his attempts to follow suit as a coach.
A tenacious midfielder, Deschamps captained Les Bleus to glory at both the 1998 FIFA World Cup – on home soil – and UEFA EURO 2000. He wasted little time in taking to life in the dugout, leading AS Monaco FC to the 2004 UEFA Champions League final before enjoying spells in charge of Juventus and Olympique de Marseille.
Deschamps' country came calling in the wake of Laurent Blanc's departure after UEFA EURO 2012. Three competitive games into his reign and France are second in 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying Group I ahead of March internationals against Georgia and Spain.
"I am really proud to be the national coach," said Deschamps, 44. "The best thing that happened to me in my football career was to wear the French shirt. I was lucky enough to wear it 103 times, and to win the World Cup in France and the European Championship. I couldn't dream of anything better. Today I am here in a new role, but I feel massively proud.
"I stopped playing ten years ago, but most of the players I have now, they have seen me play on TV. So there is a certain respect. I am trying to get the best out of every player at my disposal and make sure they all have the same team spirit. I am not their friend, I am not their enemy. But I am here to help them. They must not set any limits, everything is possible in football."