Didier Deschamps reinvents France again as Mbappe bids to keep World Cup promise

Didier Deschamps has France on the verge of a third successive World Cup final, with a pivotal semi-final against Spain on Tuesday night. The article frames the moment as a potential farewell for multiple major figures, while emphasizing Deschamps’ own rarity in winning the tournament both as a player in 1998 and as a manager in 2018. It notes he would set a new World Cup finals record by leading Les Bleus for a 26th time at the competition, tying his accomplishment if the trophy is lifted at MetLife Stadium on Sunday evening. Deschamps’ World Cup coaching record with France is highlighted: 25 matches with 20 wins, three draws, and two losses, including Germany in 2014 and a group game vs Tunisia four years earlier. The piece also cites France becoming only the third nation to reach three consecutive semi-finals, following Germany and Brazil.