Mbappe says France fell short in honoring Deschamps

France captain Kylian Mbappe has publicly expressed regret that the national team failed to give departing manager Didier Deschamps a fitting send-off at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Mbappe's emotional tribute came ahead of Deschamps's final match in charge, a third-place playoff against England scheduled for Saturday, July 18, 2026, in Miami.

France's hopes of winning the tournament ended with a semifinal defeat to Spain on Tuesday, July 14. As the team prepared for the bronze-medal match, Mbappe acknowledged the players had fallen short of providing the perfect conclusion to Deschamps's 14-year tenure. In a message shared on social media, the 27-year-old forward wrote that the squad should have offered the manager a better ending.

Deschamps, 57, is stepping down after a transformative period leading the French national team. His tenure began with a friendly draw against Uruguay in August 2012. He guided France to victory in the 2018 World Cup and led them to another final in 2022, where they lost to Argentina on penalties. Under his leadership, France also won the UEFA Nations League in 2021 and consistently performed as one of international football's top sides.