Deschamps blocks Zidane and continues to coach France until 2026

Didier Deschamps will remain coach of the France national football team until the 2026 World Cup, having led his country to the final of the last two World Cups, it was announced today.
Deschamps, who began his career with France in 2012, expired after the last Qatar 2022 World Cup, with the defending champions runners-up behind Argentina on penalties after a thrilling match.

Deschamps has blocked the path of historic French star, coach and former Real Madrid player, Zinedine Zidane, who was strongly nominated as the most prominent name to take charge of the French national team in the coming period. "I will announce to you something that makes me very happy, which is that my president (Noel Le Graet) has decided to extend me until 2026," Deschamps told the federation's general assembly in Paris. The 54-year-old continued: "I thank the president for his constant support and continued confidence. That's key to France's work."

On the other hand, the French Federation published on its official website, "The French Federation and its president Noel Le Graet express their happiness to announce the extension of the contract of Didier Deschamps at the head of the France national team until June 2026." Deschamps managed to snatch an extension until the World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico in 2026, while Le Graet wanted to extend it until the 2024 European Cup in Germany, according to press reports.

The 1998 world champion as a player and 2018 as a coach have the longest career with the French national team, ahead of Michel Hidalgo, who has eight years and six months left, the most games at the helm (138 to Raymond Domenech's 79), especially an impressive record that he can boast of.

Two years after the scandal at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, he was named Laurent Blanc and brought France back to safety: the quarter-finals of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil where they lost 0-1 to Germany, which later culminated in the 2016 European Cup final against Portugal, the 2018 World Cup title in Russia and then the final of the World Cup in Qatar. His only failure occurred at Euro 2021, when he was eliminated from the final price by Switzerland. He also led France to the 2021 UEFA Nations League title and currently sits third in the FIFA rankings. In 138 appearances for France, Deschamps recorded 89 wins, 28 draws and 21 losses, scoring 279 goals and conceding 119. The coaching staff, consisting of assistant Guy Stéphane, goalkeeping coach Frank Rafieux and physical equipment Cyril Moan, will also continue his career with the French national team.