World Cup 2026: Emmanuel Macron thanks Didier Deschamps who has made France vibrate

French President Emmanuel Macron expressed his gratitude to Didier Deschamps, the head coach of the French national team, on Saturday evening ahead of the third-place play-off against England at the 2026 World Cup in Miami. In a post on his X account, Macron acknowledged Deschamps’s contributions over the years, describing how he had “made France tremble” with his leadership and achievements. The message came just hours before Deschamps was set to take his final coaching role on the bench for the French squad. This match marked the end of his tenure as manager, which spanned nearly fourteen years and included some of the most memorable moments in French football history. Deschamps led France to victory in the 2018 World Cup, a triumph that remains one of the nation's proudest sporting achievements. Macron’s tribute highlighted the emotional impact Deschamps had on both the players and the fans throughout his career. He referred to the period under Deschamps’s guidance as “the Deschamps generation,” emphasizing the lasting legacy of the coach’s work. The president’s comments were widely shared online, reflecting the deep respect and admiration felt by many in the football community for Deschamps’s dedication and success. Deschamps took charge of the French national team in 2013 after a brief stint as assistant coach during the 2014 World Cup. His appointment followed the departure of Laurent Blanc, who had led France to the semi-finals in Brazil. Under Deschamps, the team achieved its greatest success with the 2018 World Cup win in Russia, where they defeated Croatia in the final. That victory ended a 32-year wait for a major international trophy and solidified France’s status as one of the world’s top footballing nations. In addition to the 2018 title, Deschamps guided France through several other major tournaments, including the 2016 European Championship, where they reached the semi-finals, and the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where they finished runners-up. Despite these successes, the 2026 World Cup proved to be a bittersweet farewell for Deschamps, as France lost to Argentina in the final and would later fall to Morocco in the third-place match. The final match of Deschamps’s managerial career saw him sit on the sidelines for the last time, watching his players compete for a podium finish. While the outcome did not bring home a medal, the significance of the moment was clear to everyone involved. For Deschamps, this game represented the culmination of a long and storied career, while for Macron, it served as an opportunity to publicly honor the man who had brought so much joy and pride to French football. As the match approached, supporters gathered at the stadium in Miami, many wearing blue and white to show their support. Some carried banners thanking Deschamps for his service, while others simply watched in silence, aware that this was the end of an era. The atmosphere inside the stadium reflected the mixed emotions of the occasion, pride in the journey taken, sadness at the end of the chapter, and hope for the future of French football. Deschamps has not yet commented publicly on his retirement, though it is understood that he will remain active in football in some capacity. His successor, to be announced in the coming weeks, will face the challenge of continuing the legacy built by the former coach. Meanwhile, the French Football Federation has confirmed that it will hold a special ceremony to commemorate Deschamps’s contributions to the sport, further underscoring the importance of his role in shaping modern French football.