Didier Deschamps: Reflecting on 14 years as France manager

Fourteen years after his appointment, the tenure of Didier Deschamps as manager of the France national football team is being reflected upon following his departure after the 2026 World Cup.

His coaching era began on August 15, 2012, with a friendly match against Uruguay at the Stade Océane in Le Havre. The match ended in a 0-0 draw and was met with significant criticism. Media reports from the time described the performance as a failure, with some outlets ranking it among the worst August matches in recent years.

At the time of his debut, Deschamps' lineup included players such as Karim Benzema, Olivier Giroud, Franck Ribéry, and Mathieu Valbuena. The match served as a period of adjustment ahead of the 2014 World Cup qualifiers.