Didier Deschamps: 'Euro 2016 final loss helped France learn ahead of World Cup'

Didier Deschamps has claimed that France's loss in the Euro 2016 final was a useful lesson ahead of Les Bleus' run and eventual triumph at the 2018 World Cup.

France reached the final on home soil two years ago but were defeated by Portugal in extra time.

However, the 1998 World Cup winners dusted themselves off and reached a second successive tournament final, going on to beat Croatia 4-2 in Moscow to once again lift the coveted trophy.

"How marvellous! It's a young team, who are on the top of the world," Deschamps told reporters at full time. "Some are champions at the age of 19.

"We did not play a huge game but we showed mental quality. And we scored four goals anyway. They deserved to win. The group worked so hard and we had some tough moments along the way. It hurt so much to lose the Euro two years ago, but it made us learn too.

"The win is not about me, it's the players who won the game. For 55 days, we have done a lot of work. It is the supreme coronation. We are proud to be French, to be Blues. The victory in the match belongs to them. Vive la Republique!"

Deschamps is the third person to win the World Cup as both a player and a manager, after Brazil's Mario Zagallo and Germany's Franz Beckenbauer.