sports
‘Kylian is Kylian’: Deschamps happy to shield Mbappé amid political scrutiny
With France captain in spotlight at team hotel and in home press, head coach tries to pull focus before their World Cup opener against Senegal
TL;DR
- France's World Cup team is drawing significant crowds and media attention in Boston.
- Kylian Mbappé is the primary focus of attention, with his fame surpassing even other prominent footballers.
- Head coach Didier Deschamps is prioritizing protecting his players, including Mbappé, from external pressures and scrutiny.
- Deschamps is managing expectations for the team, emphasizing that multiple nations have the potential to win the World Cup.
- Ousmane Dembélé is also under pre-tournament expectations, with Deschamps adopting a different messaging approach to lower pressure on him.
- Deschamps is entering his final tournament as French head coach and is focused on a cumulative approach to management.