France's World Cup Coach Didier Deschamps Returns Home for Mother's Funeral

Didier Deschamps, the head coach of the French national football team, will not be on the sidelines for their final World Cup group stage match against Norway. The French Football Federation (FFF) announced that Deschamps is traveling back to France due to the death of his mother.

He will be attending his mother's funeral and spending time with his family during this difficult period. The FFF confirmed the news, with reports from AFP citing the federation.

Assistant coach Guy Stéphan is set to take over the leadership of the team for the upcoming match against Norway. Stéphan will also be responsible for tactical decisions during the game. The match is scheduled for Friday and is a crucial encounter, as both France and Norway have won their first two games, making it a direct contest for first place in Group I.

Deschamps, who has been the French coach since 2012, is in his final tournament with the national team. He informed the FFF last year that he did not wish to extend his contract, which expires after the World Cup. Under his leadership, France reached the Euro 2016 final, won the 2018 World Cup in Russia, and narrowly missed defending their title in the 2022 World Cup, losing the final to Argentina on penalties.