Didier Deschamps took responsibility for France's “unacceptable” collapse in the first half of their 6-4 defeat to England, marking a bitter end to his 14 years as national coach. The French team was trailing 4-0 at halftime in the third-place playoff of the World Cup held on Saturday, before staging a spectacular comeback that was not enough to avoid defeat in Deschamps' 185th and final match in charge.
“It’s a defeat, but we were losing 4-0. We had an unacceptable first half,” Deschamps told reporters, acknowledging the initial failure that compromised the team's ambitions. “There was a reaction, with what we know how to do well. We had two chances to equalize at four, but we pushed a little more.” The French coach took the blame: “It’s my mistake because I didn’t do what was necessary in the first half.”
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Despite the setback, Deschamps emphasized that the performance in the second half at least restored the team's pride, although the sporting disappointment with the French campaign remained strong, especially after arriving in North America with ambitions of winning a third world title. “We would have preferred to finish in third place. We came with a lot of ambition and managed to achieve several positive things.” However, the defeat to Spain in the semi-finals was a decisive moment: “We failed in that game, and they knew how to play against us. This is a group with enough football quality and talent to achieve results.”
The French Football Federation (FFF) paid an emotional tribute to Deschamps, highlighting his 185 matches and 120 victories in service of the national team. “Didier Deschamps embodied high standards, rigor, a collective sense, and love for the blue shirt,” said the FFF, adding that under his leadership, the French team regained “credibility, respect, and affection,” remaining consistently at the top of the world.
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Deschamps led France to victory in the 2018 World Cup and the Nations League in 2021, in addition to reaching the finals of Euro 2016 and the 2022 World Cup. The FFF also highlighted the indelible legacy left by the coach, who served the national team for a quarter of a century, first as captain and then as coach. He was only the third man to win the World Cup as both a player and a coach, following the historic victory in 1998 and the European title in 2000.
Despite the chaotic defeat in the last match, which deviated from the controlled and disciplined football for which Deschamps is known, his impact on French football remains immense. “Thank you, Didier,” concluded the FFF, in a farewell that recognizes the coach as one of the most important figures in the history of French football.
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