All posts tagged: Didier

FIFA World Cup: Kylian Mbappe, France make it Didier Deschamps’ night | Football News

FIFA World Cup: Kylian Mbappe, France make it Didier Deschamps’ night | Football News

A blue cloth with flowers embroidered on its side greeted France manager Didier Deschamps, returning from his mother’s death, into the Metlife Arena. The message was simple but touching: “Didier, we are with you.” The emcee stopped the hip-hop song blasting from the loudspeakers. The players performed their warm-up drills without the usual frolics, but with an unusual sombreness. After the national anthem was rendered, the French fans chorused: “C’est vous, Didi!” You are the man. The understated French manager would be the man of the evening, although Kylian Mbappe nailed two goals of artful precision, Bradley Barcola exhibited his velvet feet with a goal cut from silk, and his flying Les Bleu eviscerated Sweden’s iron-willed defence (3-0). The signs are sinister and fatalistic for teams destined to stumble into them, shepherded by a manager that walks without aura or vanity. The arena was so emotionally charged that Deschamps eventually broke down. He shed a tear when he staggered to the tunnel. The face of calm creaked, touched by a moment that showed how much …

FIFA refused France’s request to wear black armband for Didier Deschamps’ mom | Football News

FIFA refused France’s request to wear black armband for Didier Deschamps’ mom | Football News

2 min readUpdated: Jun 27, 2026 08:49 AM IST FIFA reportedly refused to allow France players to wear black armbands for the game against Norway in honour of Didier Deschamps’ mother, Ginette Deschamps, who died this week. A report in The Athletic, quoting the French Football Federation, stated that they had requested FIFA for permission for the black armbands for France’s final group game, but the global governing body of football turned it down. The French federation also reportedly mistook the minute of silence before the France versus Norway game to be in honour of Ginette Deschamps only to learn later that it was being held to honour victims of the Venezuela earthquake. Deschamps missed the game against Norway to attend his mother’s funeral. He learnt about her demise on Tuesday morning. In his absence, assistant coach Guy Stephan has taken temporary charge of the squad. Stephan was seen bringing out a bouquet of flowers ahead of the Norway game to honour Deschamps’ mother. Stephan said Deschamps would rejoin the team for its next training …

Zinedine Zidane to replace Didier Deschamps as France coach after FIFA World Cup | Football News

Zinedine Zidane to replace Didier Deschamps as France coach after FIFA World Cup | Football News

2 min readMar 24, 2026 11:54 AM IST French football legend Zinedine Zidane is expected to succeed Didier Deschamps as the head coach of the France national team in the summer once the FIFA World Cup ends. According to a report on ESPN, a verbal agreement has already been reached between Zidane and the Fédération Française de Football (FFF). According to reports in French media, Didier Deschamps, who is currently at the helm in France, will end his 14-year stint as the national team’s boss after the FIFA World Cup. The head of the French football federation, Philippe Diallo, told French newspaper Le Figaro on Sunday that they knew who Deschamp’s successor was going to be. While speaking about the new boss of France after the Football World Cup in USA, Mexico and Canada, Diallo ominously said: “I know who it is.” However, he stopped short of revealing the name of the man who will be French national coach. Zidane has had two stints as the manager of Real Madrid: in 2016-18 and 2019-21). Zidane’s …

Didier Drogba says Jose Mourinho is not a racist after his ‘jumping like monkeys’ comment

Didier Drogba says Jose Mourinho is not a racist after his ‘jumping like monkeys’ comment

Didier Drogba defended his former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, insisting the Portuguese is “not a racist”. Fenerbahce coach Mourinho is under fire after Galatasaray levelled allegations of ‘racist statements’ by him. Galatasaray also said that they would take legal action. Speaking after the Istanbul Derby, Mourinho had said that the home bench were ‘jumping like monkeys’. Drogba, who played for Galatasaray in the 2013-14 season and played for Chelsea when Mourinho was the manager, jumped to his defence. “You know how proud I was to wear the yellow and red jersey and my love for the most decorated club in Turkey!!,” Drogba posted on X. “We all know how passionate and heated rivalries can be, and I’ve been lucky enough to experience it. I’ve seen the recent comments about Jose Mourinho. Trust me when I tell you I have known Jose for 25 years and he is not a racist and history (past and recent) is there to prove it. How can my “Dad” be a racist. Come on guys.” For the match Slovenian Slavko …

Didier Deschamps to step down from France role after 2026 FIFA World Cup | Football News

Didier Deschamps to step down from France role after 2026 FIFA World Cup | Football News

France’s World Cup-winning coach Didier Deschamps has said that the 2026 World Cup will be his last as the team’s head coach, bringing the curtains down on a 14-year long run which included the 2018 World Cup win and two losses in the final of the 2022 World Cup and the 2016 European Championships. Deschamps’ reign saw France become one of the best teams in the world, with a squad that was feared for its incredible depth of quality players in every position. “I’ve been here since 2012, I’m scheduled until 2026, the next World Cup, but it will stop there because it has to stop at some point.” The 1998 World Cup-winning captain added, “It could be [seen as] an announcement, even though I’m not here for that. I’ve done my time with the same desire, the same passion to keep the French team at the highest level, but 2026 is very good.” Deschamps reign as French manager had its fair share of ups and downs. His disagreement with Karim Benzema that kept the …

France Head Coach Didier Deschamps Outraged By Kylian Mbappe: Report

Kylian Mbappe’s return to action earlier than expected has outraged Didier Deschamps.© AFP Kylian Mbappe’s return to action earlier than expected has outraged France head coach Didier Deschamps and his coaching staff as the striker was left off the squad that will take part in the UEFA Nations League. Mbappe was subbed off with an injury during Real Madrid’s win over Alaves and was expected to be out for three weeks but returned to action just nine days later against Lille in the UCL. He further went on to play 70 minutes against Villarreal on Saturday. According to a report by Marca, Deschamps and his coaching staff are not happy with Mbappe, as the only reason he was rested was due to injury and have the feeling that the French captain ‘has erased himself from the national team.’ France had lost their last Nations League outing against Italy and currently sit in second place in Group 2. After a trip to Hungary, where they will face Iran, they will turn their attention to …

N’Golo Kante Returns From Wilderness As Didier Deschamps Announces France Euro 2024 Squad

World champion N’Golo Kante will make a surprise return to international football as France coach Didier Deschamps announced Thursday the 25 players that will make up the French squad at Euro 2024. Kante left English side Chelsea last summer to join Saudi club Al Ittihad and has not represented France since June 2022. “He played a full season (Kante struggled with injury during his time with Chelsea), albeit not in a European league, as he is in Saudi Arabia,” said Deschamps on French TV channel TF1. “He’s back to full fitness. With his experience, I’m convinced that the French team will be stronger with N’Golo Kante.” The 2018 World Cup winner was the big surprise in Deschamps’ squad, but the 33-year-old’s experience will doubtless be a help to youngsters Warren Zaire-Emery and Bradley Barcola, who also made the squad after fine seasons at Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain. Winger Barcola, 21, is the only uncapped player in the squad but forced his way in with a strong finish to the season, impressing particularly …

Didier Deschamps To Remain France Coach Until 2026 World Cup

Didier Deschamps’ contract expired after the World Cup final defeat vs Argentina.© AFP Didier Deschamps said on Saturday he will remain France coach until the 2026 World Cup after leading the team to the final of the last two editions. Deschamps’ contract expired after the World Cup in Qatar where defending champions France lost to Argentina in a penalty shootout after a thrilling final on December 18. It had been reported that French Football Federation (FFF) president Noel Le Graet only wanted to give Deschamps a two-year extension until the 2024 European Championship but the 54-year-old coach had insisted on staying in charge until the next World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico. “I am going to announce something which for me is an immense pleasure, and that is that the president has decided to extend (my contract) until 2026,” Deschamps said at the FFF general assembly. “I thank the president for his constant support and his continued confidence in me,” Deschamps added. “It is essential for the France team to function well.” …

Didier Deschamps To Decide On Future But Outlook Bright For Kylian Mbappe’s France

Didier Deschamps said he would wait before deciding whether to remain as head coach of France in the wake of their World Cup final defeat, but the future prospects remain bright for a side brimming with young talent and led by Kylian Mbappe. Deschamps was hoping to lead the 2018 world champions to back-to-back titles in Qatar, and they came agonisingly close, losing the final to Argentina on penalties following a thrilling 3-3 draw after extra time. The shoot-out defeat prevented Deschamps — who captained Les Bleus to glory in 1998 — from becoming the first coach to win the World Cup twice since Vittorio Pozzo in the 1930s. The 54-year-old, in charge since 2012, is now out of contract but French Football Federation President Noel Le Graet had said Deschamps would be offered new terms if he reached the semi-finals. Asked whether the result of the final would influence a decision on his future, Deschamps said: “Even with a different result I would not have given an answer today.” “Obviously I am very sad. …

Born Winner Didier Deschamps Leads France To Brink Of World Cup Glory Again

Through to their fourth World Cup final in seven editions, France have become accustomed to success on the international stage and central to it all has been Didier Deschamps, a born winner as a player and now an inspirational leader as a coach. As Les Bleus approach Sunday’s showdown with Argentina in Doha, it seems remarkable now that there were serious doubts about this French side coming into the World Cup. They had disappointed at Euro 2020 and Deschamps was already dealing with an injury crisis before Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema withdrew from the squad on the eve of the tournament. Yet the circumstances have brought the best out of the France coach, who ripped up his tactical plans and pulled off a masterstroke in turning forward Antoine Griezmann into a midfielder. Griezmann’s own comments during the competition told a story. “I owe him everything in my international career. I give everything for the shirt, for France, but also for him,” said the Atletico Madrid star who has arguably been the player of the …