Deschamps praises France's second-half performance against Senegal

Didier Deschamps praised France's second-half response after they came from a shaky opening to beat Senegal 3-1 in their first World Cup 2026 match.

The France coach said his side struggled to keep the ball and control midfield before the break, but tactical changes at half-time brought a much better display. He said the team's experience and quality made the difference in key moments.

Deschamps also singled out Kylian Mbappé and Michael Olise for their attacking impact. Mbappé scored twice to become France's record goalscorer, while Olise created several chances and provided an assist on his way to man of the match.

He described Senegal as a strong side with high-level players and said they caused France problems in the first half. The win leaves France top of Group I for now, with matches against Iraq and Norway to come.