France's calm semi-final prep: Deschamps grants 24hr free time, Mbappé stays at hotel to avoid crowds

Hupu, July 14 — L'Équipe recently reported on the French team's rest period ahead of the World Cup semi-final. From Thursday's quarter-final victory over Morocco in Boston (2-0) to their arrival in Dallas, the French team spent the five-day interval with great calm as they prepared for the semi-final.

When the French team landed in sweltering Dallas on Sunday evening, one person stayed behind at their base camp, the Four Seasons Hotel in Boston. On the first floor of the hotel, he was fully focused and meticulously printing numbers on French team jerseys. He could be seen from Columbus Avenue — the street behind the five-star hotel where players most often quietly slipped away during free time.

That was the case on Friday, the day after their quarter-final victory over Morocco (2-0). Didier Deschamps believed that keeping the team away from the pitch for at least one day during their stay in the US would only be beneficial, so arranging a day without ball training was the best way to prepare for the semi-final five days later. His decision was warmly welcomed.

The head coach set only one rule: After returning from Foxborough Stadium on Thursday (around 8 p.m.), players could have free time but had to be back at the hotel by 8 p.m. on Friday. Thus, they had a full 24 hours to themselves and their families. Some family members who attended the match immediately returned to New York, while others chose to stay in Massachusetts, having already scouted several good restaurants near the training base.

No restaurant was booked out entirely, and the sight of French internationals sitting just two or three meters away left some customers stunned. "Is it really them?" one person exclaimed in surprise, as the arrival of the French players drew a crowd. Fortunately, the French team's security team was never far away, monitoring the entrances and exits behind the hotel.

The next morning, in a relaxed atmosphere, everyone's schedule varied based on their preferences, family considerations, or needs:

• Bradley Barcola strolled with a baby in his arms
• Mike Maignan and Manu Koné explored the city
• Cherki had lunch with his family
• Aurélien Tchouaméni, who had been absent the previous day due to lingering adductor pain, decided to sweat it out in the gym

At noon, only Kylian Mbappé, Jules Koundé, and Ousmane Dembélé dined at the hotel. For the French captain, a true rock star in the US, every appearance could cause a stir, so he chose to avoid going out. Désiré Doué and Warren Zaïre-Emery had not yet reached such fame across the Atlantic. They could leisurely stroll through Boston's commercial streets with family and friends in the afternoon. Zaïre-Emery looked happy and relaxed, almost relieved — he had finally made his World Cup debut in the previous day's match.

Other French players decided to turn the hotel corridor into a real children's playground, having pillow fights with the kids, perhaps reminding them of the best times at their training centers. By 8 p.m., everyone had returned on time. Some even came back early to watch Spain's quarter-final against Belgium (2-1) together in Mbappé's large suite.

At dinner, they already knew who their next opponent would be. The players had mixed feelings — some feared Spain, while others were happy to face the team that had eliminated them in the European Championship (semi-final 1-2). The French team had no complacency, but they were confident, firmly believing in their own strength.

On Saturday morning, they resumed good habits: some woke up early to hit the gym, like Doué, Koundé, and Mateta, while others lingered a bit longer at breakfast. When afternoon training began, the players who had seen less playing time took part in a dynamic session focused on finishing drills, with Tchouaméni reassuring everyone during practice.

Back at the hotel by 5 p.m., they could watch the last two quarter-finals: Norway vs. England (2-1 after extra time) and Argentina vs. Switzerland (3-1 after extra time). The atmosphere remained relaxed, with nothing to disturb it, even though Sunday morning's training schedule was slightly adjusted — because the French team was flying to Dallas in the afternoon, and most family members had already arrived there.

The trip to Texas also went smoothly. Previously cumbersome boarding procedures had hindered their air travel, but this time everything was quick and efficient. Just as they could quickly switch into match mode.

Raviot's moving speech at the dinner table during his birthday celebration also left a deep impression. The speech particularly touched on "emotion." "You deserve the best," the French goalkeeper coach concluded, facing 26 fully focused players. The scene was unforgettable, and the players continued discussing it afterward. Video analysis the day before the match, the final training session at Southern Methodist University, the last round of teasing — everything was set, and the French team was ready to enter match-day mode.

Source: L'Équipe

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All are grudge matches

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Spain in 2024 was okay. This year's is not quite the same

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