France manager Didier Deschamps has urged his players to stay humble as they prepare for the 2026 World Cup.
His comments came after France recorded two impressive friendly wins in the United States.
France beat Brazil 2-1 on 26 March in Massachusetts. Captain Kylian Mbappé scored the first goal in that game.
Three days later, they defeated Colombia 3-1 in Washington. Forward Désiré Doué scored twice in that match.
After the Colombia win, defender Lucas Hernandez praised the squad. He said France have a great team from defence to attack and suggested they may have the best attack in the world.
Deschamps responded by saying confidence is good, but it must be controlled.
He said France have the quality to compete for the World Cup. However, he warned that several other nations also believe they can win the tournament.
“It’s not about saying we are the best,” Deschamps explained. “There are many strong teams. We must prove ourselves on the pitch.”
The 57-year-old knows what it takes to win the competition. He captained France to their first World Cup title in 1998.
He then guided the national team to World Cup success again as manager in 2018.
Deschamps will step down after the 2026 tournament, bringing his 14-year spell as head coach to an end.
He is aiming to finish his time in charge with another major trophy.
France will begin their 2026 World Cup campaign against Senegal on 16 June in New Jersey.
They will then play either Iraq or Bolivia in Philadelphia on 22 June.
Their final group match will be against Norway on 26 June in Massachusetts.
Deschamps said experience has taught him that French athletes perform best when they remain focused and grounded.
“I want the players to be ambitious,” he said. “But we must keep working hard and stay humble.”
France are considered one of the favourites, but Deschamps is determined to keep expectations realistic as the tournament approaches.
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