Final Up to date: January 07, 2023, 22:41 IST
Didier Deschamps will coach France till the 2026 World Cup after saying on Saturday he had been given a four-year contract extension simply weeks after his facet had been defeated by Argentina within the 2022 last.
Deschamps’ earlier contract expired after the World Cup in Qatar the place defending champions France misplaced to Lionel Messi’s Argentina in a penalty shootout after an exciting last on December 18.
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French Soccer Federation (FFF) president Noel Le Graet reportedly solely needed to provide Deschamps a two-year extension till the 2024 European Championship in Germany however the 54-year-old coach had insisted on staying in cost till the subsequent World Cup in the US, Canada and Mexico.
The announcement ends that debate and also will nip within the bud hypothesis that Zinedine Zidane, a teammate of Deschamps in France’s 1998 World Cup-winning facet, may take over.
“I’m going to announce one thing which for me is an immense pleasure, and that’s that the president has determined to increase (my contract) till 2026,” Deschamps mentioned on the FFF common meeting.
“I thank the president for his fixed help and his continued confidence in me,” he added. “It’s important for the France staff to operate nicely.”
Deschamps’ influential assistant coach Man Stephan additionally retains his job.
Deschamps, who starred for Marseille, Juventus and Chelsea in his taking part in profession, captained France after they gained their first World Cup in 1998 and have become coach of the nationwide staff in 2012.
He guided France to the Euro 2016 last on house soil the place they misplaced to Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal and two years later led Les Bleus to glory on the World Cup in Russia, the place they beat Croatia 4-2 within the last.
In Qatar, France overcame the loss via the damage of world participant of the 12 months Karim Benzema simply earlier than the event to go on and attain the ultimate.
Within the climax, they fought again from 2-0 all the way down to Argentina to deliver the scores to 3-3 after additional time, due to a hat-trick from Kylian Mbappe. They misplaced the penalty shootout 4-2.
Deschamps’ solely actual low level got here when France was knocked out of Euro 2020 by Switzerland on the final 16 phases.
He’s comfortably the longest-serving France coach in historical past, forward of Michel Hidalgo who held the job from March 1976 to June 1984.
France will return to motion on March 24 after they face the Netherlands on the Stade de France at first of qualifying for Euro 2024. Successful that competitors, after the frustration on house soil in 2016, is his subsequent purpose.
“Every part is finished in phases,” Deschamps advised a press convention after the assembly. “There are calls for to get outcomes and expectations are excessive for the upcoming Euro 2024 qualifiers.”
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