Kylian Mbappé has already begun his march towards the 2026 World Cup in UEFA qualifying, in what’s extensively anticipated to be Didier Deschamps’ ultimate event accountable for France. With the French Soccer Federation already weighing potential successors, stories recommend a Actual Madrid legend is in line to take over as soon as Deschamps steps apart.
Again in January, Deschamps made it clear that his time with Les Bleus is nearing its finish. “I’ve been right here since 2012 and can stay till 2026 and the subsequent World Cup, however it would finish there as a result of it has to. In my thoughts, it’s clear. 2026, it’s high-quality. You by no means need one thing good to finish, however you need to know when to cease,” Deschamps informed TF1.
Up to now, France has began qualification strongly for the event in the US, Canada, and Mexico, profitable each of their opening matches. In the meantime, Mbappé has continued to climb the scoring charts, surpassing Thierry Henry to change into the nation’s second all-time main scorer. Wanting forward, a well-recognized face on the Santiago Bernabéu might quickly be main the nationwide workforce from the touchline.
In response to L’Equipe, Zinedine Zidane has emerged because the frontrunner to succeed Deschamps as head coach. The French outlet reported that the Actual Madrid icon, who has not managed since leaving the membership in 2021, “is offered to succeed Didier Deschamps after the World Cup, patiently ready for the suitable second.”
Former French soccer participant Zinedine Zidane arrives on stage in the course of the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Video games Paris 2024 on July 26, 2024 in Paris, France.
Zidane’s second spell accountable for Actual Madrid, from 2019 to 2021, fell wanting the success of his historic first tenure. Since then, he has been linked to high-profile jobs at Paris Saint-Germain, Juventus, and Manchester United, however stories recommend Zidane has solely two roles in thoughts: a return to Madrid, or the possibility to guide the French nationwide workforce.
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L’Equipe additionally notes that intermediaries are already serving to to facilitate discussions with French Federation president Philippe Diallo, whereas a number of gamers have brazenly expressed their need to work below Zidane. France, nevertheless, is already coming into a transitional section, with Antoine Griezmann among the many key figures who’ve stepped away from the squad.
Deschamps and the tip of an period with Les Bleus
A member of France’s first-ever World Cup–profitable squad in 1998, Deschamps took over in 2012 at a time when the nationwide workforce was nonetheless reeling from its disastrous group-stage exit on the 2010 event. Underneath his steerage, Les Bleus slowly constructed what many now name a golden period.
With a brand new technology of expertise, France reached the Euro 2016 ultimate, falling to Portugal, earlier than lifting the World Cup in 2018 and the UEFA Nations League in 2021. Deschamps additionally led the workforce to a different World Cup ultimate in 2022, the place they narrowly fell to Lionel Messi’s Argentina. Now, as he prepares to shut his chapter in 2026, Deschamps will intention to cement his legacy with one ultimate run on the prime.
