World Cup 2026: Deschamps, final curtain against England just like 26 years ago

18.07.26 FT World Cup

France

4

:

England

6

Didier Deschamps is set to take charge of his final match as France head coach on Saturday, July 18th, in the third-place playoff against England.

In a remarkable coincidence, the 1998 World Cup winner as a player and 2018 champion as manager also ended his playing career against… England, on September 2, 2000. That friendly at the Stade de France finished all square, one goal apiece.

At the helm since 2012, the former Olympique de Marseille midfielder has overseen Les Bleus for 186 games, racking up 122 wins, 32 draws, and 32 defeats (400 goals scored, 174 conceded).

According to X Statdufoot, Deschamps will be the first France manager to bow out against England since Henri Guérin at the 1966 World Cup on July 20th (a 2-0 defeat).

It’s also worth noting that six of the previous seven France coaches lost their last game in charge of Les Bleus, with Aimé Jacquet the lone exception—he finished on a high, beating Brazil in the World Cup final in 1998.

Imed Ben Amara |

Editorar, fr

Imed Ben Amara - bilingual sports writer and web editor with experience in football content creation. Since 2021, he has contributed to Foot Africa, providing news coverage and analysis.

Related teams and leagues

France

England

World Cup