Didier Deschamps “has had its day”. The coach of the France team declared in TF1’s 8 p.m. news that he will leave his position after the 2026 World Cup organized in North America (Canada, United States, Mexico). This is an opportunity to look back at the major competitions contested by the Blues during the Deschamps era.
This failed campaign symbolizes the end of the “deschamps pussy”. A group victory (against Germany in the opening), three draws and an elimination in the round of 16 after a penalty shootout against Switzerland. A failure.
If we only rely on the course, we could believe that Euro 2024 for the France team is a success with a semi-final against Spain, the future champion. But in content, it is one of the worst campaigns of the Deschamps era with poor play and two boring victories by the smallest of margins (1-0 against Austria and Belgium).
Yes, we win. Yes, Karim Benzema wins his one and only trophy with the France team. It feels good after the failed Euro a few months earlier, but let’s be honest, the Nations League is an indispensable competition.
From this World Cup, we especially remember the incredible final lost on penalties against Argentina and Kylian Mbappé’s hat-trick. Before that, France is not always flamboyant but can count on its individuals, including Antoine Griezmann brilliant in midfield, to reach the bottom step. The third star was so close and far at the same time.
After snatching his ticket to the World Cup in Brazil during a heroic play-off against Ukraine, Didier Deschamps took part in his first major competition with the French team from which he took over two years earlier. A well-conducted group stage, a well-negotiated round of 16 but the German obstacle in the quarter is too hard to overcome. No matter, the future will be better for the future golden generation (Griezmann, Pogba, Varane).
Euro 2016 is a summary of Didier Deschamps’ mandate at the head of the Blues. A ric-rac debut, a rise in power, a providential player (Griezmann) and a dramatic outcome in the final. Of the four finals contested by France with DD as coach, the one lost during the Euro organized at home is the cruelest.
The masterpiece. Here too, we are talking about Deschamps in the text, except that this time, the piece falls on the right side in the finale. Archi-realistic from the 8th, solid defensively and boosted by the energy of a Kylian Mbappé not yet in his twenties, the “Dèche” team will conquer the second star of French football without blinking too much.
