World Cup: Deschamps set for bittersweet end to France job as Zidane waits

Deschamps, who led France to the 2018 World Cup title, bids farewell after Saturday’s third-place playoff with England.

Didier Deschamps brings the curtain down on a remarkable 14-year reign as France coach on Saturday when Les Bleus face England in the World Cup third-place playoff.

Waiting in the wings is Zinedine Zidane, Deschamps’ former teammate and one of the all-time great French players.

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Deschamps, 57, had been determined to sign off by leading Les Bleus to a third World Cup triumph after a glittering career as a player and coach.

France justified their billing as favourites for the 2026 tournament with a series of swaggering attacking displays, but came unstuck against Spain in the semifinals.

The painful 2-0 defeat in Arlington, Texas, denied them the chance to reach a third consecutive World Cup final and left them chasing bronze.

Characteristically, Deschamps is not anticipating an emotional farewell.

“I had the privilege of experiencing moments that were magical, and others that were difficult,” he said on the eve of the game.

“But life goes on. I’m a positive person, and I know things will be good, too.

“It’s the best thing that ever happened to me.”

Didier Deschamps leaves the France head coach role after 14 years, having led them to World Cup  triumph in 2018 [Franck Fife/AFP]

Deschamps: The man who transformed France

Deschamps will always be remembered as the architect of France’s glorious 2018 World Cup campaign, 20 years after he captained the team to their first global crown.

The France team were at a low ebb in 2010 when they exited the World Cup in the group phase, with their campaign marred by a squad uprising against then-coach Raymond Domenech.

Laurent Blanc took the team to the Euro 2012 quarterfinals but Deschamps truly transformed them, leading France to victory in Russia in 2018 at a tournament that propelled Kylian Mbappe to global stardom.

There have also been bitter disappointments, including defeat in the Euro 2016 final to Portugal on home soil and the loss to Argentina on penalties in the 2022 World Cup final.

Tuesday’s semifinal loss to Spain was especially painful, given France’s imperious form in the United States. But Deschamps can be proud of his record of taking the team to at least the semifinals in five of his seven major competitions at the helm.

When asked earlier in the current tournament about his secret to consistent success, he said: “I don’t know, having very good players, I guess.

“But I can’t be doing my job too badly.”

France’s forward #10 Kylian Mbappe is bidding to become the first player to win the Golden Boot twice [Mauro Pimentel/AFP]

Deschamps has reinvented France over the past year, pivoting away from the more conservative approach that had produced results in the past.

He was often criticised for not playing a more expansive game with the talent at his disposal – at Euro 2024, France scored just four goals in six games.

Deschamps has given star forwards Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele and Michael Olise the freedom to express themselves, but might regret not being more cautious against Spain.

The coach’s World Cup was also overshadowed by the death of his mother, which meant he missed one game as he returned home for the funeral.

An open secret: Zidane is coming

The England match will be Deschamps’ 27th World Cup game as coach, which is a record. After that, it will be time for a new challenge.

It is an open secret that Zidane, a man with a unique aura in the French game, will be the next head coach of the team.

Zinedine Zidane is tipped to be the next head coach of France [Pablo Rodriguez/Quality Sport Images via Getty Images]

The former Real Madrid player, Deschamps’ teammate at the 1998 World Cup, has been preparing himself for the role since leaving Real in 2021.

Zidane, 54, has previously admitted that it was his “dream” to manage France, and that appears to be coming true soon.

“There are not many people capable of leading one of the world’s biggest national teams,” French Football Federation President Philippe Diallo told Le Figaro earlier this year.

“It needs to be someone who ticks every box and who everyone in France can get behind.”

Zidane may be the chosen one, but he has a lot to live up to.