Zidane, Dugarry accused of influencing Deschamps' departure from French team

French media report that former star Zinedine Zidane and ex‑player Christophe Dugarry may have pressured national team coach Didier Deschamps to leave his post after France's loss to England at the World Cup. Deschamps, speaking after the defeat, said the environment had become "unbreathable" and hinted he was pushed out. Journalist Philippe Sanfourche suggested that close allies of Zidane, including Dugarry, contributed to the mounting criticism that surrounded Deschamps during his final tournament. The speculation revives earlier footage from the 1998 documentary "Les Yeux dans les Bleus," which showed a brief altercation between Zidane and Dugarry before France won the World Cup, highlighting a historically friendly but occasionally tense relationship between the two.

The story reflects ongoing tensions among members of the France‑98 generation and raises questions about internal dynamics within the French Football Federation ahead of future competitions.