France's head coach Didier Deschamps arrives ahead of the 2026 World Cup Group I football match between France and Iraq at the Philadelphia Stadium in Philadelphia on June 22, 2026. Photo by MAURO PIMENTEL / AFP
France star Aurelien Tchouameni said his team were aiming to make Didier Deschamps “as proud as possible” as they go into their final World Cup group game against Norway on Friday without their coach, who has returned home to attend his mother’s funeral.
“It is a difficult time for everyone. Our objective is to make him as proud as possible,” Real Madrid midfielder Tchouameni told reporters at France’s base near Boston on Thursday.
Deschamps learned the news of his mother’s death on Tuesday and has flown back to France to attend the funeral on Friday, before he then returns to the United States to be with his squad.
“I am thinking a lot about Didier and his family. We are deeply affected by what has happened,” said assistant coach Guy Stephan, who will lead the team in their final Group I match against the Norwegians at the Gillette Stadium.
