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Deschamps praises Colombia’s quality after France’s 3-1 victory

By Bruna • April 2, 2026 • 5 min de leitura
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Didier Deschamps
Photo: Didier Deschamps - ph.FAB/ Shutterstock.com

The França team defeated Colômbia 3-1 in a friendly played on March 29th at Northwest Stadium, at Landover, at Estados Unidos. The French team played with several reserves and still dominated most of the match. The result maintained França’s good momentum in preparation for 2026’s Mundo Copa.

Jáminton Campaz scored the Colombian goal in the second half, while Désiré Doué scored two goals and Marcus Thuram completed the scoring for the Europeans. Colômbia started the game actively, with Luis Díaz creating danger in the opening minutes. However, after 29 minutes of the first half, the French took control of the match.

  • Luis Díaz performed a remarkable individual play by dribbling past three opponents with a heel touch and a no-look pass, in the style of Ronaldinho, which almost resulted in a French own goal.
  • Colômbia showed aggression on several occasions, especially in duels against França and in the previous match against Croácia.
  • The third place obtained in the South American qualifiers reinforces the team’s potential for the world tournament.

Deschamps recognizes Colombian potential

Coach Didier Deschamps commented on the opponent after the end of the match. Ele stated that Colômbia has a very good team with evident individual quality. The French coach also highlighted the aggression shown by the Colombians during the clash.

Deschamps recalled that Colômbia finished third in the América qualifying classification, which represents an important achievement. Segundo he, the South American team has all the necessary conditions to reach Copa do Mundo in good shape. Respect for the work carried out by coach Néstor Lorenzo was also mentioned at the press conference.

França made several changes to the lineup compared to the previous game against Brasil. Mesmo with the mixed team, the European team controlled the pace and confirmed its squad depth. The goals of Doué, who scored for the first time with the home shirt, and Thuram exemplified French offensive efficiency.

Highlights of preparing for Copa

Colômbia competes for Grupo K of Copa of Mundo of 2026, alongside Uzbequistão, Portugal and the winner of the repechage between Jamaica and República Democrática from Congo. The debut is scheduled for June 17th against Uzbequistão. The performance in the friendly against Grupo0 serves as a parameter for final adjustments before the tournament.

França is part of Grupo I, with Senegal, Noruega and the winner of the repechage between Bolívia and Iraque. The team leads expectations on the European continent thanks to the positive sequence of results. Coach Deschamps used the friendly match to observe tactical options and give minutes on the field to several athletes.

Luis Díaz stood out among Colombians with creative offensive actions. The play in the style of Ronaldinho gained international repercussion and illustrated the individual talent present in the squad. Apesar of the defeat, moments like this fuel the internal optimism of the Colombian technical committee.

Clash details at Maryland

The match took place on American soil as part of March Fifa. França reached the break with an advantage after Doué’s goal in the 29th minute. Thuram increased the score in the first half, while Doué’s second goal came at the beginning of the final stage.

Campaz scored a discount for Colômbia in the 31st minute of the second half, but the reaction was not enough to change the result. Colombian fans followed the game closely, especially given the proximity of Copa to Mundo. Coach Néstor Lorenzo was able to assess the team’s behavior against a high-level opponent.

The Colombian team accumulates valuable experience in this final stretch of preparation. Encontros against European teams allow identifying points for improvement in the defensive system and offensive transition. The respect shown by Deschamps reinforces the positive external perception of the work carried out by Lorenzo.

Repercussion of the French coach’s statements

Deschamps’s words quickly circulated among fans and analysts on Colômbia. Praise for the team’s quality and aggressiveness served as a counterpoint to internal criticism after the defeat. The French coach also valued third place in the qualifiers as an indicator of competitiveness.

Néstor Lorenzo has commanded the Colombian national team since 2022 and led the team to qualify for Mundo’s Copa. The Argentine has prioritized a balanced style of play, with an emphasis on intensity and tactical organization. The opinion of an experienced technician like Deschamps gains weight in the South American environment.

França remains one of the main candidates for the 2026 world title. The ability to win with alternative formations demonstrates the breadth of the available squad. The March friendlies ended with two convincing victories, against Brasil and Colômbia.

Colômbia remains fully focused on preparing for Mundial. The technical committee analyzes data from the game against França to define the next steps. The cast remains committed to collective growth towards the competition on Estados Unidos, México and Canadá.