France superstars thriving thanks to Deschamps' in-game tweaks

France is widely regarded as having the best squad in international football, but managing such elite talent is challenging. Since 2012, Didier Deschamps has continually reinvented his team mid-tournament, resulting in a World Cup win and near-misses. This pattern is emerging again in the current World Cup, particularly with Kylian Mbappe, now 27, who prefers active involvement over being a pure finisher.

In qualifying, Deschamps used an asymmetrical 4-2-4 or 4-2-3-1 formation with Hugo Ekitike on the left, Mbappe dropping deep, Dembele as a false nine, and Michael Olise on the right. For the opening game against Senegal, injured Ekitike was replaced by Desire Doue. This system mirrored players' club roles: Mbappe as a roaming striker, Olise hugging the right touchline, and Dembele as a drifting false nine.

However, defensive issues arose: distances between attackers and midfielders Adrien Rabiot and Aurelien Tchouameni were too large, allowing Senegal to create chances. Deschamps made halftime adjustments, swapping Olise and Dembele's roles. Dembele moved to right midfield, improving defensive compactness into a 4-4-1-1 shape. Olise centrally provided through balls to Mbappe, and counter-attacks became more effective.

Deschamps' approach focuses on player skills, maintaining fluidity rather than rigid patterns. Despite tweaks, forwards rotate freely, building combinations through understanding. France now looks more threatening offensively and solid defensively—a winning combination in any era.