Doha, Qatar, World Cup history is beckoning to France, star player Kylian Mbappe and coach Didier Deschamps.
Team France
When France took to the field on Sunday for the World Cup final against Argentina and Lionel Messi, football legends were waiting to be written for the team. The Azzurri may be the first back-to-back title winner in 60 years since Brazil did so in 1958 and 1962. The 23-year-old will become the youngest player to win two World Cups, following the 21-year-old Pele.
Mbappe was on the World Cup stage at the age of 19 and to date, Mbappe has scored five goals in Qatar, tied with Messi as the top scorer in the World Cup.
Since Vittorio Pozzo took charge in Italy in 1934 and 1938, Deschamps would become the first person to coach the team to two world championships.
Mbappe
In 1998, when France won the World Cup for the first time, he lifted the trophy as captain in Paris. In 2018, he won the championship as a coach and now he is aiming for his third world title.
France have reached their fourth final in the last seven World Cup matches, including a penalty shootout to Italy in the 2006 final after Zinedine Zidane was sent off. They are the best team in nearly 20 years.
After France selected a 26-man squad in November, starting centre-back Presnell Kimpembé and strikers Karim Benzema and Christopher Nkunku were absent due to injury.
Deschamps
To fill their gaps, Deschamps promoted a group of players in their early 20s who performed well and made a smooth transition to the next generation.
Central defender Ibrahima Konate excelled against Morocco as striker Rondar Kolo Muani came off the bench to score the ball for the first time to help his team win 2-0.
There are many young players in the team, but they have experienced teammates to help guide them and grow quickly. Including Antoine Griezmann, the goal-scoring winger who has been reinvented as an all-around midfielder. The 31-year-old Griezmann is the focus of any team at this World Cup.
Deschamps' 10-year stint in France, the World Cup is over, and it looks certain to wait for a contract extension, but for now, he prefers a trophy first.