Didier Deschamps resumes coaching duties after mother Ginette's death

Ginette Deschamps, mother of France national football team coach Didier Deschamps, died on 23 June 2026. Her funeral was held on 26 June in Anglet, near Bayonne. Deschamps temporarily left the World Cup training camp, delegating match‑day responsibilities to his assistant Guy Stéphan, before returning to the base ahead of France's game against Sweden. He told reporters the loss was "very hard" personally, but he felt it was necessary for both his own well‑being and the team’s.

On 30 June 2026, former press officer Philippe Tournon revealed on the TV program C à Vous that Deschamps follows a strict ritual during matches: he insists that his wife Claude be positioned within his line of sight from the bench, a detail he coordinates down to the ticketing staff. The coach said that seeing his wife helps him stay focused, especially after the recent family tragedy.