Rayan Cherki and Didier Deschamps clash after France's 4‑6 loss to England

Manchester City midfielder Rayan Cherki, who saw limited minutes at the 2026 World Cup, was involved in a heated exchange with France coach Didier Deschamps during the third‑place match against England in Miami. Deschamps asked Cherki to release the ball more quickly during the first break; Cherki responded sharply, and the coach substituted him at halftime for Ousmane Dembélé. The incident attracted criticism, with French daily L’Équipe rating Cherki’s performance 2/10.

The following day Cherki posted a brief thank‑you to Deschamps on Instagram, saying “Merci Didier Deschamps,” and later issued a longer statement on X praising the coaching staff and emphasizing unity within the squad. He expressed hope of earning a place under a future coach, Zinedine Zidane, as the team looks ahead to Euro 2028 and the 2030 World Cup.