EXCLUDED – Courbis: “Grandpa Noël Le Graët realizes that he gave Deschamps the opportunity to decide his fate?”

Consultant for RMC Sport, Rolland Courbis answered questions from 10 Sport to come back to the World Cup, the coronation of Messi and the future of the France team. An interview without jargon with a clear-cut opinion on the question of the coach of the Blues…

After his title of world champion, is Lionel Messi the greatest player of all time?
After Pelé? Yes. Number one is Pelé. Compared to Maradona, Platini, Cruyff or Zidane, for me it’s Messi. The little extra that makes the difference is his longevity, his regularity, his quiet life of someone very serious, no extra-sporting problem. An example for all his teammates with his behavior as a friendly little guy and a great player.

Many speak of the France – Argentina final as being the most beautiful in the history of the World Cup. You share ?
Obviously, in terms of emotions, it’s difficult to do better. But when you analyze the match, I had fun the day after the match to be able to comment in detail on RMC and BFM TV and I have one piece of advice: watch only the last 20 minutes. Because before it’s a shame. I have never seen a team as bad as our France team and a team as bad in a World Cup final. If there is a player to emerge from this bad period? Antoine Griezmann. What he does on the pitch for 70 minutes is incomprehensible, inexplicable and catastrophic.

“It’s Noël Le Graët who must make the decision, not Deschamps”

What is your view on the probable extension of Didier Deschamps in the France team?
Why not, provided that it is not he who decides. I don’t know if we realize it, but we’ve reached ridiculousness and we’ve gone beyond it. Didier Deschamps’ career is unique in every way, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t think about it. Regarding our dear president, does the great Santa Claus realize that he gave Deschamps the opportunity to decide? Decide what? Of his salary? The length of his contract? This analysis must be made by the president. I find it difficult to follow. At times, it is difficult to make certain decisions and in particular that of leaving or stopping. The career of Didier Deschamps, I find it extraordinary. As for the decision to continue or not, I think we have to think about it. But it is the president who must make the decision, not Deschamps. The question I ask myself is in relation to the young generation who will push the old one out of the France team. Lloris, Varane, Pogba, Kanté, Griezmann, Giroud… is it up to him to fire these players once they are less useful? I don’t have the answer, but I ask the question. The change of future ex-executives will not be easy, Santa Claus must think about it. Today, we can highlight the good things and the regrets about Deschamps’ tenure. In 2014, we just said when we lost against Germany: ‘We lost against the winner’. It’s good, every time we lost against the winner, it’s as if we had won. I do not see how to say it is reassuring.

With this course, the coach risks receiving proposals from big clubs?
Of course, but he won’t accept. When we have tasted the difference there is between bothering with around thirty players on a daily basis, including 7 or 8 minimum that we did not choose and having the coach with only around ten matches instead of 60 per year, we no longer want to find this profession of coach which is a profession of passionate madman. I take the bet that Didier Deschamps will not return as coach after having been coach.

French team: Retirement after selection for Deschamps? https://t.co/AdRqvFbc5h pic.twitter.com/3zd6vLoMkN

— 24hfootnews (@24hfootnews) December 22, 2022

“Benzema’s return to the France team was missed”

Who would be the best coach to take over?
In any case, we know very well that behind there is Zizou. We know very well that the relationship between Zidane and Deschamps is average because there is a kind of rivalry.

Do you think the situation around Karim Benzema could have been avoided?
The return to the France team was missed. Taking it at the last moment, I think it was a mistake. The tsunami it triggered could have been avoided. Now, his departure, the relationship he has with Didier Deschamps is difficult. He spent five and a half years of punishment which caused him to miss 70 selections. Even if at rest level during international breaks, it may have helped him to continue to progress because Benzema’s level has never been as high as in the last two years. It is nevertheless regrettable, even if details have surely escaped us.

With Alexis Poch