France’s secret weapon: the conversations nobody else hears

NEW YORK, July 13 : France’s march to the World Cup semi-finals has been powered by the goals of Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele, but the players believe an equally important part of their success has been forged away from the cameras, in hotel rooms and private conversations without the coaching staff.

Didier Deschamps’ side face Spain on Tuesday seeking to reach a third successive World Cup final, having developed a unity that midfielder Adrien Rabiot and defender Jules Kounde say extends well beyond tactical meetings and training sessions.

The players analyse matches together in small groups, challenging each other and taking responsibility for finding solutions beyond those provided by Deschamps and his assistants.

“We communicate a lot and talk among ourselves regularly,” Rabiot told reporters on Monday.

“At the hotel, during our downtime, we try to analyse matches together in small groups. That is important, beyond everything the coach and his staff provide.

“We all speak the same language, we all have the same objective and everyone is directing their energy towards it. What the staff bring us is essential, but the dialogue between the players, without the staff being involved, is important as well.”

That sense of ownership has helped France combine one of the tournament’s most potent attacks with a collective defensive effort that begins with the forwards.

Mbappe has scored eight goals and Dembele five, but Kounde said France’s work without the ball had been as important as their individual quality in possession.

“We have done a good job defensively, but it goes well beyond the defenders,” Kounde said.

“It is a collective effort, starting with the way we press from the opposition’s very first pass. When the work is done