Didier Deschamps' Final Match: France's 4-6 World Cup Loss, Mbappé's Record, and the Zidane Era

Didier Deschamps' remarkable 14-year reign as head coach of the French national football team came to a spectacular, chaotic end on July 18, 2026, when France lost 6-4 to England in the World Cup third-place playoff. The match at Miami Stadium was one of the wildest in World Cup history and produced several historic moments, including Kylian Mbappé becoming the all-time leading goalscorer in World Cup history. Here is a fact-checked account of the key events, the reactions from Deschamps, Mbappé, and President Macron, and what comes next for Les Bleus with Zinedine Zidane set to take over.

The Match: A 10-Goal Thriller in Miami

The third-place playoff was a game of two halves. England raced to a stunning 4–0 halftime lead, with Bukayo Saka scoring a hat-trick and Jude Bellingham adding another goal . France looked shell-shocked and were booed off the pitch at the break. However, the second half saw a stunning French comeback. Deschamps' team pulled the score back to 4–3 and later 5–4, but England ultimately held on to win 6–4 . The match was described as a "firework" and one of the craziest games of Deschamps' reign, with French outlet RMC calling it a "shipwreck like the Titanic" .

Historic milestones: Despite the loss, Kylian Mbappé scored twice for France, overtaking Lionel Messi as the all-time leading goalscorer in World Cup history with 22 career goals . For England, the third-place finish was their best World Cup result since winning the tournament in 1966 .

Deschamps' Reaction: Taking Full Responsibility

Deschamps did not shy away from blame. He described France's first-half performance as "unacceptable" and "disgraceful" and admitted he mishandled his substitutions during the match . Speaking at his final press conference, he smiled and told reporters he "always likes to have the last word" . He addressed his players with a poignant farewell: "I wish you all the best, and since the best is always yet to come, it's ahead of you" .

Mbappé and Macron: Tributes to a Legend

Kylian Mbappé insisted the chaotic defeat would not "stain the legend" of Deschamps, calling him a transformative figure in French football .

French President Emmanuel Macron paid a public tribute to the outgoing coach, thanking him for his "legendary victories" and calling him "the coach of the happy days" ("le sélectionneur des jours heureux") . Macron said he, like every French person, would "regret" Deschamps after his departure .

The Successor: Zinedine Zidane

Zinedine Zidane is set to succeed Deschamps as head coach. Multiple reports — including from ESPN, the French Football Federation (FFF), and L'Équipe — indicate that a verbal agreement was reached in March 2026 . Zidane is expected to officially take charge from September 1, 2026 . The succession has been an "open secret" for months, with Zidane long seen as the overwhelming favorite . FFF president Philippe Diallo has confirmed that the identity of the next national team manager was already decided .

Highlights of Deschamps' 14-Year Managerial Record (2012–2026)

Deschamps' tenure was the longest of any France national team coach. His key achievements include:

• 2018 FIFA World Cup: Won the title in Russia, beating Croatia 4–2 in the final .
• 2022 FIFA World Cup: Runner-up, losing to Argentina on penalties after a legendary final .
• UEFA Euro 2016: Runner-up, losing to Portugal in the final on home soil.
• Three consecutive World Cup semifinals: A feat matched by very few nations — finished first (2018), runner-up (2022), and fourth (2026) .
• Overall dominance: Over 100 matches in charge; consistently a top contender in every major tournament.

Deschamps is one of only three men to have won the World Cup as both a player (captain, 1998) and a manager (2018) .