CORNERFLICK
Didier Deschamps has said he will step down as France coach after the 2026 World Cup.
The 57-year-old said he hopes to end his spell with Les Bleus in a final in New York, and leave the national team with pride.
Deschamps said France’s results have been the main reason he has stayed in the job. He added that if the team had not performed well in recent years, he would have gone long ago.
He also said the squad has changed a great deal since he first took charge of a different generation of players in 2012, and that a coach has to adapt to the players available.
Deschamps said he has no interest in club management after the World Cup and is focused only on France and the tournament ahead.
On his own career regrets, he said he does not feel much remorse overall, but the Euro 2016 final and the 2022 World Cup final in Qatar remain painful defeats.
He also addressed long-running links with Real Madrid, saying his name has appeared on their shortlists at different points, including after he left Juventus in 2007.
Deschamps praised Kylian Mbappé and Lamine Yamal, and named Germany, Spain, France, Portugal, England, Argentina and Brazil among the main title contenders. He also said Africa’s progress means another team from the continent could win the World Cup, with the expanded 48-team format making the next edition harder and longer.