France vs England: Deschamps set for final World Cup match as Zidane waits

What the report says

Al Jazeera, citing AFP, reported that Didier Deschamps is set to take charge of France for the final time on Saturday when Les Bleus meet England in the 2026 World Cup third-place playoff. The match follows France’s 2-0 semifinal defeat to Spain in Arlington, Texas, which ended their hopes of reaching a third consecutive World Cup final and left them playing for bronze.

Deschamps, 57, leaves after 14 years as national coach, a tenure defined by the 2018 World Cup title in Russia and repeated deep runs at major tournaments. He also captained France to their first World Cup triumph in 1998. His time in charge included major setbacks, among them the Euro 2016 final loss to Portugal and the 2022 World Cup final defeat on penalties against Argentina. Al Jazeera reported that Saturday’s match will be his 27th World Cup game as coach, described as a record.

The report said Deschamps had reshaped France’s approach over the past year, moving away from a more cautious style and giving attacking players including Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele and Michael Olise greater freedom. France had entered the tournament in strong form but were ultimately undone by Spain in the semifinals. His campaign was also affected personally by the death of his mother, which led him to miss one match.

Attention now turns to Zinedine Zidane, Deschamps’ former France teammate and ex-Real Madrid coach, who is widely expected to succeed him. Al Jazeera described Zidane’s arrival as an “open secret,” while noting that the French Football Federation has emphasized the need for a figure able to unite the country behind one of world football’s most prominent national teams.