Deschamps takes responsibility for unacceptable first half in last game in charge of France

Didier Deschamps took responsibility for France's "unacceptable" first-half collapse during his final match as national team coach, a 6-4 defeat to England in the World Cup third-place playoff.

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It is a defeat, but we were 4-0 down. We produced an unacceptable first half.

France found themselves trailing 4-0 at halftime in Miami on Saturday, a deficit Deschamps acknowledged was his fault. "It is my fault because I must not have done what was needed in the first half," he told reporters. Despite the poor start, the team showed a spirited recovery in the second half, narrowing the gap and creating chances to equalize, but ultimately fell short.

Deschamps' extraordinary 14-year reign concluded with this painful loss. During his tenure, he led France to the 2018 World Cup title, the 2021 Nations League crown, and appearances in the Euro 2016 and 2022 World Cup finals. The French Football Federation (FFF) lauded Deschamps for embodying "high standards, rigor, a sense of the collective and love for the blue shirt."

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It is my fault because I must not have done what was needed in the first half.

The FFF statement highlighted Deschamps' impact, stating that under his leadership, the team regained credibility and respect, remaining among the world's elite. His quarter-century of service to the national team, both as a player and coach, has left an "indelible mark." Deschamps captained France to their first World Cup victory in 1998 and became one of the few to win the tournament as both player and coach.

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Didier Deschamps embodied high standards, rigour, a sense of the collective and love for the blue shirt.