Saint-Denis (AFP)

No post-World feedback for Didier Deschamps! His Blues qualified Thursday for the Euro-2020, despite the injuries of senior players and the bitter resistance of Turkey. What guarantee the coach of the world champions a future extension of contract.

In 1999, it took more effort to Roger Lemerre's men, the successor of Aimé Jacquet, to access the Euro-2000. Around their captain, a certain Deschamps, the Blues had not won their ticket until the last day, enjoying a draw between Ukraine and Russia.

Twenty years later, the band of Antoine Griezmann and Kylian Mbappé made in the efficiency: seven victories in nine qualifying matches, and it is invited to the next continental tournament before the last meeting Sunday in Albania.

"There are 30 points to be taken, we must make sure to take more than our opponents to meet the Euro-2020," had warned the coach after the draw for qualifying in Dublin in December 2018 .

In their triumph of victories, the world champions have let slip only 4 points, in June in the fury of Konya (2-0 defeat) then in the return leg (1-1) in October at the Stade de France.

- New faces -

These are the only missteps of the qualifying round, an "air hole" like that of November 2018 in Rotterdam (2-0) that had deprived the Bleus of participation in the final tournament of the brand new League of Nations.

In fifteen months, the world champions have conceded only two defeats, facing over-motivated opponents and despite many absences on injuries (Kylian Mbappé in October, for example, but also Paul Pogba and Hugo Lloris, still unavailable) .

Often described as a conservative technician, which he strongly contests, Deschamps has brought a dozen new heads into the France group since the coronation of Moscow in the summer of 2018.

Some are stealthy, like the goalkeeper Benjamin Lecomte or striker Alassane Plea. Others have made their date for the future, as defenders Léo Dubois and Ferland Mendy, striker Jonathan Ikoné and especially Clement Lenglet, became a pivotal holder at the expense of Samuel Umtiti.

Since the World Cup, the coach has also appealed to ghosts, such as Moussa Sissoko, Kingsley Coman and Wissam Ben Yedder. Lucas Digne went international again in October 2018, with a random success: the Everton defender collapsed in Turkey, like many teammates, but he was much better in Iceland (1-0) in October.

- Qatar goal? -

By qualifying for the Euro-2020, the vice-champions of French Europe have surely offered their boss a new extension.

"To continue until the next World Cup (2022 in Qatar), obviously, it's not something that I would not like," Deschamps told AFP in March, adding: "It's tied to the results anyway, but before you think about 2022, it goes through the qualifiers" at the Euro-2020.

The goal is now reached and the 51-year-old technician, currently under contract until the summer of 2020, will soon sign a new lease.

The president of the French Football Federation, Noël Le Graët, has always said that a qualification would be synonymous with prolongation. "Didier and I will meet again after qualifying in December, and in a very short time certainly we will find the opportunity to continue, but not before the end (qualifications)," said in April. leader on Franceinfo radio.

Seven years after entrusting the selection keys to Deschamps, "NLG" can count on the intact motivation of a man inhabited by his mission, according to the coach's assistant, Guy Stéphan.

"Breeder, there are peaks at each gathering, but also moments to breathe, to oxygenate and to do something else.In that direction, since I know him, he is fully fulfilled in what he does. There is no wear, "says AFP his loyal lieutenant.

© 2019 AFP