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France head coach Didier Deschamps has temporarily stepped away from the national team’s FIFA World Cup campaign following the death of his mother, the French Football Federation (FFF) confirmed on Tuesday.
The federation announced that the 57-year-old will return to France to attend the funeral and will miss both the team’s preparations and their final Group I fixture against Norway on Friday in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
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In a statement, the FFF revealed that Deschamps received the news of his mother’s passing on Tuesday morning and subsequently agreed with federation president Philippe Diallo to leave the squad’s base camp in the United States.
“Didier Deschamps will not be able to lead training sessions ahead of the Norway-France match. He will also not be present on the bench on Friday for the last match of the Bleus in Group I (9 p.m., local time).
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“The national team coach had the sorrow, this Tuesday morning, of learning of the death of his mother. He will return to France to attend her funeral.
“In agreement with Philippe Diallo, the president of the French Football Federation, who is present at the France team’s base camp for the World Cup in the United States, Didier Deschamps has entrusted responsibility to his assistant, Guy Stéphan, to lead the group until his return.
“In this extremely painful moment, we wish the coach and his family much courage and assure them of the support of everyone at the Federation,” the statement read on X.
With Deschamps absent, long-serving assistant coach Guy Stéphan will take charge of the French team until the manager’s return.
The development comes at a time when France are enjoying another impressive World Cup campaign. Les Bleus have already secured qualification for the Round of 32 after opening their tournament with a 3-1 victory over Senegal before comfortably defeating Iraq 3-0.
Friday’s clash against Erling Haaland-inspired Norway will determine who finishes top of Group I, although France have already guaranteed their place in the knockout stages.
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Deschamps’ temporary departure also adds an emotional layer to what is already his farewell tournament as France coach. The former midfielder has overseen one of the most successful eras in French football during his 14-year reign, guiding Les Bleus to the 2018 FIFA World Cup title.
He also led France to the 2022 World Cup final, where they lost on penalties to Argentina, and the Euro 2016 final, where Portugal beat them. For now, however, football takes a back seat as France rally around their manager during a difficult personal moment.
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