L'Équipe: Deschamps Has Lived in Zidane's Shadow, Viewing Him as a 'Stone in His Shoe'
L'Équipe published an in-depth analysis of the complex relationship between French football figures Didier Deschamps and Zinedine Zidane. The article traces their history from teammates at Juventus and the French national team (1995-2000) to their coaching careers. Tensions first emerged during the 1998 World Cup when Deschamps publicly criticized Zidane's red card. The relationship became more strained after Deschamps replaced Laurent Blanc as France coach in 2012, with Zidane feeling Blanc was betrayed. Deschamps has reportedly always seen Zidane as a shadow and a threat, especially after Zidane expressed interest in coaching France in a 2012 interview. Despite mutual respect and warm interactions at commemorative events, underlying resentment persists. The article notes that Zidane's potential appointment as France coach has been a recurring parallel suspense during Deschamps' tenure, and the two are expected to eventually reconcile through shared memories and championship celebrations.
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