NEW YORK, June 24 — France coach Didier Deschamps will miss his team’s final Group I match against Norway on Friday (Saturday morning in Malaysia) after travelling to France following the death of his mother and to attend her funeral, reported German Press Agency (dpa).
“The national team manager was saddened to learn of his mother’s death yesterday morning. He will return to France to attend her funeral,” the French Football Federation (FFF) said in a statement.
“In agreement with Philippe Diallo, the president of the French Football Federation, who is at the French national team’s base camp for the World Cup in the US, Didier Deschamps has entrusted his assistant, Guy Stéphan, with the responsibility of leading the squad until his return.
“At this extremely difficult time, we wish the manager and his family much strength and assure them of the support of everyone at the Federation.”
France and Norway have already qualified for the knockout stage after winning their opening two matches.
However, top spot in Group I remains at stake, with Les Bleus needing only a draw to finish first due to their superior goal difference.
Deschamps, 57, has managed the national team since 2012 and is expected to step down after the tournament, with Zinedine Zidane widely tipped to succeed him.
He guided France to World Cup glory in 2018 and led them to the final in 2022.
