'Hats off', Deschamps

Sublime. That's the least one can say about the French national team's performance so far. With all due respect to their opponents, it's been a stroll through the World Cup, such is their supremacy, their clinical edge, and their ability to dominate and subdue adversaries simultaneously.

I can't recall seeing a national team, both theoretically and game-by-game, so overwhelmingly favored to win the title. Their 2-0 victory over Morocco only amplified this sentiment.

France was dominant. They played their game exactly as they wished. They pushed Morocco deep into their own penalty area, stifling any and all attempts at a counter-attack. Saibari's absence explains some of Morocco's inability to capitalize on offensive transitions, but it doesn't explain everything. Nor does it fully convey just how superior the French truly were.

With the ball, it was the France we've grown accustomed to. Secure and precise in their passing. Patient in the attacking half to create conditions for positional play, from which they launch their offensive dynamics. Constantly seeking interior connections through one-twos and third-man runs, while never neglecting to exploit the wide channels, whether to draw in defenders and then switch play centrally, or to develop 2-on-1 or 1-on-1 attacking actions.

Didier Deschamps has skillfully continued his work. He has expertly leveraged the immense depth (both quality and quantity) of his squad. He has refined a footballing machine that is increasingly approaching every coach's Nirvana – perfection.

We all know such a thing doesn't exist in football, but it's hard to pinpoint weaknesses that could be humanly exploited by the teams still in the competition. A brief speculative exercise would point to Spain and Argentina as the main hurdles for the French to overcome. Spain, for their well-assimilated playing philosophy and unique footballing DNA. Argentina, because they have Messi. But both teams seem a step below Les Bleus.

With each passing game, France seems to defy gravity, elevating their performance even further. The football they play is clearly the most aesthetically pleasing of this World Cup. Every move reveals an extraordinary breadth and power that transcends mere beauty. I don't know if it will be enough for the title, but it's more than enough for my admiration.