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