Fourteen years of leadership and a match that kept everyone on the edge of their seats—though perhaps not in the way he would have preferred. Didier Deschamps concluded his final chapter as France’s national team coach following the World Cup 2026 third-place playoff against England, a game that saw the Bleus fall short in a thrilling 4-6 defeat after mounting a spirited second-half comeback from a 4-0 halftime deficit.

“It’s been a profoundly special day for me, one that encapsulates everything the French team has meant in my life—even if all good things must come to an end,” Deschamps shared with beIN Sports. “The French team will be sorely missed.” His departure marks the end of a tenure that included 120 wins, 35 draws, and 30 losses, along with a World Cup victory and two heartbreaking final losses at Euro 2016 and the 2022 World Cup.

“I thoroughly enjoyed it”

Even in his farewell, Deschamps maintained his characteristic high standards in evaluating his team’s performance. “The first half was disastrous,” he admitted. “But then came pride—we came within inches of turning an impossible situation around. These players are exceptional, young, and hungry to improve. They have what it takes to stay among the world’s best.”

Despite the disappointment, the departing coach publicly praised his players, visibly moved. “I thanked them because there’s the heartbreak from the semifinal defeat, but also a surge of pride. They must carry that fire under the French jersey—nothing surpasses it. I thanked them as people too, because I’ve thoroughly enjoyed these weeks, drawing immense satisfaction from my exchanges with players of all ages. The future looks bright for them.”

He leaves behind a young squad whose core will still be in their prime for the next World Cup in four years. “After the results we’ve achieved together, expectations are high—but they’re not a burden,” the 1998 world champion said about his successor. “The talent is there; now it’s about other key ingredients. I’m incredibly proud of them, of everything we accomplished as a team, of the unity in the group. I’m proud of my staff, and a little proud of myself too. That’s it—I’m done with the French team, at least. I’m still young, but first I’m going to focus on my family and recharge. As I always say, the best is yet to come.”