Luciano Spalletti has a knack for winning trophies and breaking records everywhere he goes. The former Nepali manager did it first with the Italian club when he won the Seria A in the 2022 / 2023 season which was 33 years after Diego Armando Maradona last led them to victory in 1990. Now at the helm of the Italian National side, Luciano Spalletti and co. Defeated France for the first time in 70 years in the city of Paris. Kicking off their Nations League campaign against the 2021 winners of the competition France at the Parc des Princes would seem to be a daunting task for any national side. But not for Spalletti and his men.
As if the mountain wasn’t already a herculean task to climb, La Italia conceded in the first 13 seconds of the match. Bradley Barcola the PSG player robbed di Lorenzo to find himself One V 1 against Gianluigi Donnarumma. The informed youngster blasted the ball into the net to pull his side ahead. Many teams would have crumbled after this disheartening start. Instead, Gli Azzuri responded with increased vigour and concentration.
For most of the next 89 minutes, the French were outplayed in their own backyard. All three goals by the Italian side were excellent. So much so that it seemed as if there was nothing France could do to stop them. It felt as though the French didn’t even come close to stopping them at any point in the buildup to the goals.
The first was a switch from the right to the left followed by an aesthetic one-two between Sandro Tonali and Di Marco with the left back finishing off in style. The second one was a brilliant set-up by Retegui for Frattesi who is Italy’s highest scorer under Spalletti’s reign. The third goal came when Raspadori made a darting run into the box and was found by Udogie’s through pass, the striker then made Saliba look like a fool before slotting it past Mike Maignan. The condition of the French defence was so bad that the scorer of Italy’s 2nd goal on the night, Frattesi could’ve easily bagged a hat-trick if not for the Crossbar and Mike Maignan’s incredible save in the 2nd half.
Spalletti and co’s excellence might mean Didier Deschamps’ Time is Up
In their last 8 competitive fixtures, the French national team have scored only two open-play goals. Neither of which was scored by their talismanic striker Kylian Mbappe. For a team as talented as Les Blues, this is surely a worrying phase. Not only did they have a disastrous Euros campaign but they have had no improvements since. Their only goal yesterday was when Barcola stole the ball from Di Lorenzo. It’s clear that Deschamps’ team lack creativity in the midfield. Greizmann and Mbappe are on the decline and no one else is putting up their hand to be France’s saviour.
The team needs a change and that change could very well be their Manager. After 13 years at the helm of Les Blues, it’s time for Didier Deschamps to get a move on. In this period, he has taken France to two World Cup finals, out of which they won one and a Nations League triumph in 2021. But not even he can be a hero for longer than that. Eventually, as the saying goes, “You either die a hero or stay alive long enough to become the Villain.” And now it’s time for Deschamps to understand his time in the National Side is over.
Who shall be Didier Deschamps’ successor?
It’s time for someone spirited to take over. Someone who ejects aura like no one else. Of course, we are talking about Zinedine Zidane. For the longest time ever the Frenchman has been destined to take over the National Side. There were rumours following the 2022 World Cup and there are rumours about it yet again. The former Real Madrid manager hasn’t coached anyone since leaving Madrid in 2019. But in the 3 seasons prior, he did manage to Three-peat the UEFA Champions League. Which has now adopted a new format.
There is no one better to handle a lot of individual egos and unprecedented talent in a single squad than Zinedine Zidane. The footballing legend commands respect in the dressing room. And he is the one guy who can turn France’s situation around in an instant.
With the 2026 FIFA World Cup still 2 years away this would be the perfect time for France to have a change in the head coach position. Should Didier Deschamps step down? What is your opinion on the direction France is heading towards? Tell us in the comments below.
