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Deschamps, who led France to the 2018 World Cup title, will be farewelled after Saturday’s third match against England.
Published on 18 Jul 2026
Didier Deschamps brings the curtain down on an incredible 14-year reign as France coach Saturday when Les Bleus meet England in World Cup the third race.
Waiting in the wings is Zinedine Zidane, Deschamps’ old teammate and one of France’s all-time greats.
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Deschamps, 57, is determined to sign to lead Les Bleus to a third World Cup triumph after a successful career as a player and coach.
France justified their billing as favorites for the 2026 tournament with several attacking displays, but it came. against Spain in the semifinals.
A painful 2-0 defeat in Arlington, Texas, denied them a chance to reach a third straight World Cup final and left them stranded. chasing bronze.
Naturally, Deschamps is not looking forward to saying goodbye.
“I was fortunate to have moments that were magical, and moments that were difficult,” he said the night of the game.
“But life goes on, I am a rational person, and I know that things will get better again.”
“It’s the best thing that ever happened to me.”
Deschamps: The man who changed France
Deschamps will always be remembered as an architect France’s glorious World Cup 2018 campaign20 years after leading the team to their first international crown.
The French team was in danger in 2010 when they went out of the World Cup in the group stage, their campaign was marred by a group that attacked the then coach Raymond Domenech.
Laurent Blanc took the team to the quarter-finals of Euro 2012 but Deschamps turned them around, leading France to victory in Russia 2018 in a game he inspired. Kylian Mbappe worldwide fame.
There have also been disappointments, including a Euro 2016 final defeat to Portugal at home and Argentina’s defeat on penalties in 2022 World Cup final.
Tuesday’s semifinal loss to Spain was especially painful, given France’s form in the United States. But Deschamps can be proud of his record of taking the team to the finals of five of his seven major championships.
Asked at the start of the current tournament about his secret to consistent success, he said: “I don’t know, having the best players, I guess.
“But I can’t do my job too badly.”
Deschamps has relaunched France in the past year, adopting a more conservative approach that has produced results in the past.
He is often criticized for not playing more games with the talent he has – on Euro 2024France have scored just four goals in six games.
Deschamps has given forwards Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele and Michael Olise the freedom to speak, but he will regret not being more careful against Spain.
The coach’s World Cup campaign was also overshadowed by the death of his mother which caused him to miss one game as he returned home for the funeral.
Open secret: Zidane is coming
The England game will be Deschamps’ 27th World Cup game as a coach, which is a historic feat. After that, it will be time to solve a new problem.
It is an open secret that Zidane, the man who has a special aura in French football, will be the head coach of the team.
The former Real Madrid player, a teammate of Deschamps at the 1998 World Cup, has been preparing for his role since leaving Real in 2021.
Zidane, 54, has previously admitted it was his “dream” to manage France, and it looks set to come true soon.
“There are not many people who can lead one of the biggest clubs in the world,” French Football Federation president Philippe Diallo told Le Figaro earlier this year.
“He must be someone who ticks every box and who everyone in France can get behind.”
Zidane may be a candidate, but he has a lot to do.
