Just hours before France take on England in the FIFA World Cup 2026 third-place playoff, captain Kylian Mbappe paid an emotional tribute to outgoing head coach Didier Deschamps, admitting the team failed to give one of the country’s greatest managers the farewell he deserved.

Deschamps, who announced before the tournament that he would Step down after the World Cup will take care France against England for the last time Les Bleus’ hopes of winning a second world title under his leadership ended after they lost to Spain in the semi-finals.

Before the match, Mbappé took to social media with a heartfelt message thanking the coach who led one of the most successful eras in French football history.

“Today is your last dance,” Mbappe wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter).

“We should have offered you a better ending, but we failed.”

‘Time will judge’

The France captain reflected on Deschamps’ remarkable 14-year tenure, saying the manager’s contribution to the national team goes far beyond the trophies he has delivered.

“It is very difficult to put into words what you achieved in 14 years, you were a key actor in the revival of this team,” Mbappe wrote.

“People don’t always know how to appreciate your greatness, but time and history will take care of that.”

Deschamps took over in France in 2012 and turned Les Bleus into one of the major forces in international football. he led the team 2018 FIFA World Cup title in RussiaThe UEFA Nations League crown in 2021, and also reached the finals of Euro 2016, 2022 World Cup and 2026 World Cup.

Already a World Cup-winning captain in 1998, Deschamps became only the third man to win football’s biggest prize as both a player and coach, cementing his place among the game’s most revered figures.

end of an era

Mbappé thanked Deschamps for his confidence in him throughout his international career and said it was a privilege to represent France under one of the country’s greatest football figures.

“Thank you for giving me the chance and opportunity to represent my country on the biggest stage for so many years,” Mbappe wrote.

“I feel fortunate to be able to stand beside one of our country’s greatest giants, and I have excellent memories of all the things we lived and accomplished together.”

The Real Madrid forward concluded by wishing Deschamps success in whatever comes next.

“I wish you all the best on your new adventure, and thank you again for everything you bring to this jersey, which means so much to us.”

France will now look to ensure Deschamps’ final match ends with a win when they take on England in the third-place playoff. Whatever the result, the match will bring down the curtain on a 14-year reign that restored France to the pinnacle of world football and established Deschamps as one of the country’s greatest managers, with Zinedine Zidane widely expected to succeed him.

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