The curtain is about to fall on Didier Deschamps' illustrious era at the helm of the French national team as he prepares for one final showdown – a World Cup third-place playoff against England. The 10pm BST kick-off will be a poignant occasion, with Deschamps bidding adieu to the job that has defined him for nearly 15 years. A new chapter beckons, with Zinedine Zidane widely tipped to take over, but Deschamps remains resolute in his pursuit of securing third place.
Speaking ahead of the match, Deschamps acknowledged the elephant in the room – no one wants to be here. "I have a duty for this game," he said firmly. "It's not a friendly, it's a third-place playoff. We've worked hard as players and staff to reach this last objective. It may not be as coveted as winning the title, but we're not going to let it slip through our fingers." The outgoing coach added, with characteristic humility, "In my head, I know that it is my last match. I don’t want anyone to cry. The end is near, but life goes on."
France captain Kylian Mbappé paid a heartfelt tribute to his departing mentor in an emotional message shared on social media. "Today's your final dance," he wrote. "You've given us so much over the years – we should have done better by you. But time and history will set the record straight. You're a giant of French football, and it won't be long before people come to appreciate your greatness."
Meanwhile, England manager Thomas Tuchel remained defiant in the face of criticism, reiterating his stance that England were never among the favourites to lift the trophy. "We knew we weren't quite on the same level as France, Spain, and Argentina," he said confidently. "There's still a gap to close, but we'll use this experience to drive us forward. We won't be dwelling on what might have been – we're already looking to the future."
The England inquest into their semi-final exit against Argentina is set to rumble on, with concerns about the team's midfield depth continuing to simmer. The Football Association's own "England DNA philosophy" has highlighted the need for top-class central midfielders with the technical skills required to win a World Cup semi-final – a point that refuses to go away.
Despite its reputation as a somewhat thankless task, the third-place playoff can be an absolute thrill-ride, boasting a higher goals-per-game average than the final and never having gone to penalties. For some nations, a third-place finish represents their best-ever World Cup performance – Poland in 1970 and 1982 spring to mind, along with Austria, Chile, Portugal, Turkey, and Belgium.