Finding balance will be the challenge in Deschamps' France swansong

Even with the young attacking gifts of Michael Olise, Bradley Barcola and Désiré Doué, the French focus will fall on Kylian Mbappé.

Kylian Mbappé captains his country at a World Cup for the first time and arrives under a degree of scrutiny he’s never experienced. Pic: FRANCK FIFE / AFP via Getty Images

Ever done the tourist thing here and grabbed some sports merch to prove to everyone at home you’d been to New York? It may be time to raid the attic or bottom drawer and find any T-shirts, hats or hoodies which feature the logo or likeness of the city’s Knickerbockers.

New York is not Knicks crazy. It’s demented. Any bit of thread or tat with even a passing reference to the city’s NBA team is so sought-after that there’s a secondary market to rival FIFA’s World Cup ticket resale platform. By Thursday afternoon, when they parade the NBA Championship trophy through the Canyon of Heroes, the Knickflation will have skyrocketed again. A 53-year title drought was ended in spectacular fashion on Saturday night and the city has barely slept since. Given the age and contract profile of this Knicks team, New York is already dreaming of a dynasty.