France's Rayan Cherki slams coach Deschamps after World Cup quarter‑final win

France defeated Paraguay 1‑0 to reach the World Cup 2026 quarter‑finals, but midfielder Rayan Cherki used his brief appearance to confront coach Didier Deschamps. Cherki, who has been substituted in for less than ten minutes in three of five matches, said the limited playing time was “exhausting” and implied that the coach’s decisions favored others. He had previously refused a handshake with Deschamps after the round‑of‑16 win over Sweden, citing the same frustration.

The incident comes amid a broader discussion of France’s football resurgence. After a disastrous 2010 World Cup, Deschamps took over in 2012, rebuilding the squad through the Clairefontaine academy and turning former talents into a cohesive unit that won Euro 2016, the 2018 World Cup, reached the 2022 final and is again viewed as a favourite. Analysts compare France’s revival with recent overhauls in England, Spain, Germany and the Netherlands, highlighting how structural changes and new coaching philosophies have reshaped national teams across Europe.