France manager Didier Deschamps will not manage his team’s final group-stage
match against Norway on Friday as he flies back to France to attend his
mother’s funeral.
“Didier Deschamps will not be able to oversee training sessions ahead of the
Norway v France match. He will also be absent from the bench for Friday’s
final Group I game,” the French Football Federation said in a statement
announcing the news.
“The national team coach learned this morning of the death of his mother and
will return to France to attend her funeral.
“In agreement with Philippe Diallo, president of the French Football
Federation, who is currently at the France team’s base camp, Deschamps has
entrusted assistant coach Guy Stephan with responsibility for leading the
squad until his return.”
France, which are the betting favorites to win the World Cup at +400 according
to DraftKings, already have clinched a spot in the knockout round with wins in
their first two Group I matches against Senegal (3-1) and Iraq (3-0).
Norway, though, also has won their first two matches and would knock France
down to second in the group if they win Friday’s match in Foxborough, Mass.
Deschamps, 57, has coached France’s national team since 2012. He led Les Bleus
to the 2018 World Cup championship and a penalty-kick loss to Argentina in the
2022 World Cup final. He was France’s captain when they won the 1998 World Cup
on home soil, finishing with a then-record 103 international caps for France
when he retired from international play in 2000.
Source: Khaleej Times