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France Falls 6-4, Deschamps Resigns; Zidane Named Coach

7/19/2026

28 6 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

France lost 6-4 to England in the World Cup third-place match in Miami on July 18, 2026, ending Didier Deschamps’s tenure.
Deschamps said he would step down after the tournament because of the first-half collapse.
He departs after 185 matches, 120 wins and a record 20 World Cup victories.
The French Football Federation announced Zinedine Zidane will take over as coach on September 1, 2026.

History

Historical Context

In 1998 France hosted the World Cup, won its first title with a 3-0 victory over Brazil on 12 July, and manager Aimé Jacquet resigned immediately after the triumph. The team’s fourth-place finish in 2026 continued a pattern in which disappointing World Cup results have frequently been followed by changes in the coaching staff. France has appeared in 17 tournaments.

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Story summary

France lost 6-4 to England in the World Cup third-place match in Miami on July 18, 2026, ending Didier Deschamps’s tenure.
Deschamps said he would step down after the tournament because of the first-half collapse.
He departs after 185 matches, 120 wins and a record 20 World Cup victories.
The French Football Federation announced Zinedine Zidane will take over as coach on September 1, 2026.

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