Deschamps bids farewell to "Al-Zarq" ahead of Saturday's match against England
Despite being eliminated from the title race, France has not yet concluded its participation in the FIFA World Cup, as it will play tomorrow (Saturday) in Miami for third place against England. While this match is purely symbolic, it still carries stakes for Les Bleus.
The “small final” of the 2026 World Cup will carry a special flavor, marking Didier Deschamps’ final appearance as head coach of the national team. The 57-year-old manager, who took charge in 2012, will close a chapter spanning 14 years at the helm of Les Bleus, and his players will naturally be motivated to honor his departure with a fitting celebration.
Although he failed to secure a third world title after winning as a player in 1998 and as a coach in 2018, Deschamps will likely strive to end his tenure on a positive note before handing over the reins, most probably to Zinedine Zidane, and moving on to new horizons.
The bronze medal may not compensate a team and coach who considered themselves destined to win the tournament, but it could help soothe some of the pain.
Deschamps has not dwelled extensively on this upcoming fixture, given the profound disappointment stemming from their exit against Spain in the semi-finals. Consequently, it remains difficult to know whether Kylian Mbappé will participate in the match.
However, the national team captain may have personal motivations to appear. The French star currently leads the tournament’s scoring charts and is just one goal away from matching the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner’s record for most goals scored in World Cup history, which stands at 21.
The French technical staff will find it very difficult to treat the match against England with any sense of complacency, given the intense sporting rivalry between the two nations.
The rivalry with England is rooted in geographical proximity, though it falls more within the realm of neighborly folklore rather than genuine animosity. Nevertheless, the Three Lions have not fully digested their quarter-final defeat to France in the 2022 World Cup, particularly after Harry Kane missed a penalty in the dying moments of the match (1-2).
It will also be crucial to assess their recovery from their semi-final loss to Argentina on Wednesday (1-2), after they had led 1-0 until the 85th minute.
The third-place match often provides an opportunity to give playing time to players who featured in limited roles during the tournament.
Deschamps may be inclined to uphold this tradition, rewarding substitutes who displayed exemplary behavior throughout the month-long campaign without expressing any complaints.
Without fielding an entirely reserve lineup, the coach may opt to mix his starting XI to appease the bench players.
