France is expected to announce a new head coach in the coming week. According to several rumours, Zinedine Zidane is likely to replace Didier Deschamps.
The French Football Federation said in a statement on Thursday that its president Philippe Diallo will name the coach at a news conference at the headquarters in Paris.
Zidane has not coached since parting ways with Real Madrid in 2021. During his stint as coach, Madrid clinched three straight Champions League titles from 2016-18.
Deschamps was working with France for 14 years and stepped down after the conclusion of the FIFA World Cup 2026. Under him, the Les Bleus won the FIFA World Cup in 2018 and suffered a loss in the final on penalties in 2022. The team also lost the European Championship final in 2016.
Earlier, Zidane was France’s playmaker when it won the 1998 World Cup, scoring twice in the final in a 3-0 win against Brazil, and starred two years later when France won the European Championship. He won the men’s Ballon d’Or in 1998.
The Marseille-born former footballer represented France in 108 matches and scored 31 goals, including a deft Panenka-style penalty in the 2006 World Cup final, which Les Bleus lost after he was sent off in extra time for headbutting Italian defender Marco Materazzi in the chest.
France will now gear up to play away matches against Turkey in the Nations League on September 25, followed by a match in Belgium three days later. Later, the Les Bleus will face Italy on October 2 at the Stade de France.
FIFA World Cup 2026, France vs England: Goalscorers in the third-place clash
In the recently concluded FIFA World Cup, France suffered a loss in the third-place match by 4-6 against England. Skipper Kylian Mbappe (2 goals), Bradley Barcola (1 goal), and Ousmane Dembele (1 goal) were the goalscorers for France.
On the other hand, Declan Rice (1 goal), Ezri Konsa (1 goal), Bukayo Saka (3 goals), and Jude Bellingham (1 goal) registered goals for England.
In the title clash of the marquee event, a late goal from Ferran Torres helped Spain to emerge victorious by 1-0 against Argentina. This was the second time that Spain has clinched the elusive showpiece.
(With AP Inputs)
