The football played by Didier Deschamps' France belongs to another era, according to Christophe Dugarry. The 53-year-old former international, who earned 55 caps for his country, has had enough of what he describes as the reactive style of play that Les Bleus have been producing for the past twelve years.
France booked their place in the Final Four of the UEFA Nations League last Sunday with a hard-fought 2–0 extra-time win over Croatia.
The result, on paper, should have sparked widespread celebration. Les Bleus, after all, are once again within reach of silverware and continue to be one of the most consistent teams in international football under the leadership of Didier Deschamps. However, not everyone is impressed especially former World Cup winner Christophe Dugarry.
The former striker, who was part of the golden generation that lifted the 1998 World Cup and the 2000 European Championship, offered a scathing review of France’s recent performances. Speaking to RMC Sport, Dugarry slammed the style of play implemented by Deschamps, accusing the long-serving coach of dragging the team back with a philosophy that, in his words, “belongs to another era.”
“The football France plays under Deschamps comes from another time,” Dugarry said. “That type of football doesn’t exist anymore. We need to stop with it. We need a new vision. We need to be ambitious. We should be the ones scaring our opponents not waiting to react once we’re in trouble.”
France’s qualification came after a tense and often frustrating two-legged encounter with Croatia. While they eventually prevailed in extra time, much of the match was marked by a lack of tempo, urgency, and invention. Dugarry believes the team’s repeated tendency to play with caution until forced to attack is not only outdated but also detrimental to the long-term growth of French football.
“We’ve had enough of watching this team come alive only when their backs are against the wall,” he said. “I’m fed up. This was perhaps one of the worst matches I’ve seen in the last twelve years.”
A major point of criticism was the composition of Deschamps’ midfield. According to Dugarry, the current setup is built around physicality and work rate rather than creativity and flair qualities that, in his view, are essential in modern international football.
“This type of midfield is designed to run, not to create,” he added. “It lacks imagination, it lacks elegance. It’s time for Deschamps to reflect and make serious evaluations about the way this team plays.”
Dugarry’s remarks have resonated with a portion of the French football community. While no one questions Deschamps’ achievements leading France to a World Cup title in 2018, a Nations League triumph in 2021, and a World Cup final appearance in 2022 there is a growing concern that his pragmatic and conservative approach has reached its expiration date. Many believe the current generation of players, filled with technical and explosive talent, is being limited by a rigid tactical framework that doesn’t fully exploit their strengths.
For a country that has produced players like Zinedine Zidane, Thierry Henry, and more recently Kylian Mbappé, the lack of fluid, expressive football feels like a missed opportunity. “It’s not just about results,” Dugarry insisted. “It’s about identity. It’s about making fans proud, making them want to sit in front of their TVs to watch Les Bleus. Right now, we’re losing that connection.”
The comments add more pressure to Deschamps, who has been at the helm of the national team since 2012. While his track record speaks for itself, critics argue that the longevity of his tenure may be stifling the team’s evolution. With several managers in world football now adopting more progressive, possession-based, and high-tempo styles, Deschamps’ reactive approach is starting to look increasingly outdated by comparison.
France’s next major challenge will come in June, when they face Spain in the semi-finals of the Nations League. Spain, who recently eliminated the Netherlands with a dominant display, represent exactly the kind of fluid, technical, and proactive football Dugarry and others want France to aspire to. That matchup will be a major test not just of Deschamps' tactical choices, but of his willingness to adapt.
As the debate intensifies, one thing is clear: France are still winning, but how they win is becoming just as important as the result. For fans like Dugarry, who know what it means to wear the shirt with pride and excitement, results without joy are no longer enough.
