‘I’ll miss the French team’ - Deschamps ahead of England clash

Didier Deschamps is preparing to coach his final match for the French national team, a third-place play-off against England in the World Cup. The 57-year-old coach, who led France to victory in 2018 and to the final in Qatar, acknowledged the end of an era.

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I know that the final curtain falls tomorrow. No one here is going to cry, but I know I’ll miss the French team.

"I know that the final curtain falls tomorrow," Deschamps stated at a pre-match press conference. "No one here is going to cry, but I know I’ll miss the French team." He reflected on his 15-year tenure, calling it a privilege filled with magical and difficult moments. Deschamps, who also captained France to a World Cup win in 1998, expressed his positive outlook on the future, stating, "life goes on. I’m a positive person, and I know things will be good, too. It’s the best thing that ever happened to me."

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For 15 years (he was appointed in 2012), I had the privilege of experiencing moments that were magical, and others that were difficult.

Despite the disappointment of losing the semi-finals 2-0 to Spain, Deschamps stressed the importance of fulfilling their duty in the upcoming match. "We are disappointed because we had a lot of ambition for this competition," he said. "We must accept the loss, and we now have this game around the corner, and then we will go on holiday, we all need it." He added that while neither France nor England likely wanted to play this match, there is still an objective to achieve.

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But life goes on. I’m a positive person, and I know things will be good, too. It’s the best thing that ever happened to me.

Deschamps' successful reign has left an indelible mark on French football. His departure marks the end of a significant chapter, with the team now looking towards the future under new leadership after failing to secure a third World Cup title in Qatar.

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We are disappointed because we had a lot of ambition for this competition. We must accept the loss, and we now have this game around the corner, and then we will go on holiday, we all need it.