The end of an era: Didier Deschamps aims to go out on top as France strive for glory again

Analysis

By Luke Entwistle for World Soccer in the 2026 World Cup Special, May 2026.

France go into this World Cup with their gaze cast beyond it. Didier Deschamps’ departure as manager of the national team was confirmed back in January 2025, and the federation have yet to name his successor. They are highly unlikely to do so until after this summer’s tournament, and the vacuum of information has given rise to a mountain of speculation. The spectre of Zinedine Zidane is looming over Les Bleus’ preparations for this summer’s tournament, while Deschamps is tasked with focusing minds.

His decision, made well in advance of the World Cup, at least provided clarity. His future had become a big topic of discussion following some turgid displays at Euro 2024, and despite his incredible achievements with the national team, there was a sense that he had outstayed his welcome. A growing ambivalence towards the national team, reflected in attendance figures, certainly confirms that impression. It is harsh. Under Deschamps, France have become a prototype for how to approach international football; he has taken Les Bleus to three major finals, including back-to-back World Cup finals, winning one of them, back in 2018. But there has been a clamour for something new.

Even with Deschamps still in position, there are the seeds of a new era with a wave of rising talent; Michael Olise, Desire Doue, Hugo Ekitike and Warren Zaire-Emery are beginning to establish themselves and look to have big futures for their country. Yet their emergences are tardy and, with other big problems to deal with, integrating all of them into a coherent system feels like a bridge too far; amplifying the strengths of other underperforming stars will rightly be Deschamps’ priority.

Kylian Mbappe needed time away from the national team to bounce back from a blip in form at international level. The Real Madrid forward was in a fine vein of form for his club before concerns about his fitness amid an ongoing knee issue that already dates back several months. His entourage recently said that an operation is not being considered “at this stage”.

Concerns, question marks and distractions dominate France’s preparations; Deschamps has handled them before, he will have to do so one final time if he is to replicate his past success for a national team that is looking towards the future.

Dider Deschamps' view

Lucas Hernandez has said that he thinks France have the best attack in the world. Would you agree with that

I have ambition, and I want the players to have it too, but I don’t want us to lose our humility. We need everything to be stronger than the others. I won’t hide and say that we aren’t one of the teams that can be world champions, but there are eight to ten teams that can say that. It’s not by shouting: “We’re the best, we’re the strongest.” From experience, it isn’t when a French sportsman is feeling comfortable that they are better.

In recent times, you have set up with four forwards. Has the balance shifted for you, given that you are often characterised as a defensive manager?

Of course, it isn’t everything to put on four attackers, or three or five, it is about being efficient, about having a good balance too. At times, we’ve been a bit on the limit, but I won’t renounce being more dangerous to the opponent. Today, we are able to cause more problems for our opponents. We want to be less predictable, less readable.

Will it be in the attacking positions that the decisions will be hardest for you?

There are decisions to make in every position of the pitch. That is the highest level. Were the attackers mobilised during the March international because of the impending World Cup? A bit, maybe. They know full well that there is a lot of competition. They have the advantage of being here and showcasing themselves...but we won’t see ourselves more beautiful than we are.

Going into the World Cup there is a lot of talk about your potential replacement, with Zinedine Zidane touted to succeed you in the role. The president of the FFF even said he knows the identity of your successor. How do you respond to that?

I am not in the habit of commenting on the president’s comments. I spend enough time with him to talk to him. I am focused on what is important to me. Today, tomorrow…you can write your topics but I won’t worry about it.

Does this being your final competition as France head coach create extra pressure or the opposite?

Neither. What is in the past is in the past. I am not thinking about having a successful exit. The ambition is to go as far as possible [in the World Cup]. I am not nostalgic. The most important thing is to keep the France national team at the highest level.

There was a lot of talk about a review of the squad at the start of the season. Is that now over?

No, there is still some reflecting on that. Will most of the players in March’s squad be there when the [World Cup] list is announced? Yes, otherwise, it would mean that I have lost my marbles! I will also ask myself the same questions when I announce my next list…and to an even greater extent. That is why I won’t be making hasty conclusions from the March international break.

Tactics

France are defensively solid and unsurprisingly so given the quality and depth in the centre-back positions. The concern going into this summer’s tournament will be the attack. That sounds preposterous, given that the attacking line consists of Mbappe, Dembele, Doue, Olise, Thuram, Cherki, Barcola – the list goes on and on and on – but there are genuine concerns in this department.

The issue is not the personnel, but rather how they are deployed. At Euro 2024, it took until the semi-final defeat to Spain for a France player to score from open play. Mbappe’s move into a central role, coupled with Olivier Giroud’s retirement from international football, is the source of the issue. Often, there are no players occupying central zones, creating issues in build-up and in terms of finishing off chances. Mbappe is given free-roam but that liberty has often come at the cost of France’s attack more broadly.

Player-for-player, there perhaps isn’t a more talented starting XI at this World Cup, but Deschamps has the challenge of making the pieces fit, optimising the attacking potential, but without sacrificing the defensive solidity that has made Les Bleus a juggernaut over the past decade.

The View From France

“Two years after an unconvincing run to the Euro 2024 semi-finals, France look a far more intimidating prospect. Although there are concerns at full-back, in players like Kylian Mbappe, Michael Olise and Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele, Les Bleus possess the firepower to give Didier Deschamps a golden send-off.” - Tom Williams, French football expert

“France have some of the best players in the world in every position but there is no world-class back-up to Maignan, and a lack of quality or difficulty in rediscovering form at full-back. Group I, with Senegal, Norway and Iraq, is the group with the most quality, so you have to be careful.” - Christophe Belleudi, Agence France Presse

The Coach

Deschamps has to be considered one of the most successful international coaches of the century. Prior to taking over France, he had already secured legendary status after captaining Les Bleus in the victorious 1998 World Cup final on home soil.

He had some success as a club coach, leading Monaco to the 2004 Champions League final and Marseille to the Ligue 1 title in 2010, before inheriting a France side in turmoil following a poor Euro 2012. He has led his nation to two World Cup finals, winning one of them, making him the standard-bearer of international management over the last decade.