Deschamps absent as France face Norway in World Cup decider
Assistant coach Guy Stephan takes temporary charge as Didier Deschamps misses final group stage match against Norway in Boston.
France head coach Didier Deschamps will miss the national team’s final World Cup group stage match against Norway following the death of his mother. The French Football Federation (FFF) confirmed that Deschamps has returned to France to attend the funeral, with assistant coach Guy Stephan appointed to take temporary charge of the squad in his absence.
Deschamps, 57, was informed of his mother’s passing on Tuesday morning. FFF president Philippe Diallo granted the coach permission to travel to France, leaving Stephan to manage the team for the upcoming fixture. The match is scheduled for Friday in Boston and will determine the winner of Group I.
France have already secured their place in the knockout stages of the tournament, having secured victories over Senegal and Iraq in their opening two group matches. The team’s previous encounter against Iraq in Philadelphia was marked by a two-hour weather delay due to severe thunderstorms and lightning, before France secured a 3-0 win with goals from Kylian Mbappé and Ousmène Dembélé.
The coaching change comes at a critical juncture for the French side, who now face Norway to settle the group title. Stephan’s temporary leadership will be tested as the squad looks to maintain their momentum heading into the next phase of the competition.
Deschamps has a long history with the French national team, having captained the side to World Cup victory in 1998 and the European Championship in 2000. He has managed the national side since 2012, leading them to the 2018 World Cup title and the 2022 final, where they were defeated by Argentina. The exact date of his return to the squad has not been specified.
