After 14 years as head coach of the French national team, Didier Deschamps aims to conclude his tenure with a victory. Despite his preference for a championship send-off, France faces England in the third-place playoff following their 2-0 semi-final loss to Spain.
Deschamps’ illustrious career with France includes guiding the team to the 2018 World Cup triumph and reaching the 2022 final, alongside his 1998 and 2000 World Cup and Euro 2000 victories as a player. His legacy remains firmly etched in French football history.
While the missed final is a significant disappointment, France players are determined to secure a win for their departing coach. “We want to do it for him, for everything he’s given to the team and each of us,” defender Ibrahima Konaté stated at a press conference. Several players with limited World Cup minutes may earn starts in the final matchup.
Captain Kylian Mbappé is expected to start, maintaining his pursuit of the tournament’s top scorer title. The Real Madrid forward’s eight goals in seven matches tie him with Lionel Messi, who leads the all-time World Cup scoring chart with 21 goals compared to Mbappé’s 20.