Copy linkFacebookXPinterestEmailShare this article 0Join the conversationFollow usAdd us as a preferred source on GoogleNewsletterSubscribe to our newsletterFrance manager Didier Deschamps has returned home from the World Cup after the death of his mother.Deschamps left the United States in order to attend his mothers funeral after receiving the news on Tuesday and will miss Fridays Group I decider against Norway at Gillette Stadium.France and Norway have both secured their berths in the round of 32 with six points out of six thanks to wins over Senegal and Iraq. They meet in Boston tonight with top spot and a second-round trip to MetLife Stadium on the line.The French Football Federation has offered Deschamps its supportThe French Football Federation (FFF) issued a statement this week confirming the absence of the manager from Les Bleus final group stage fixture.At this incredibly painful time, we wish the head coach great strength and assure him of everyones support, said French footballs governing body. You may like Didier Deschamps to miss World Cup decider versus Norway due to family reasons France squad World Cup 2026: Didier Deschamps' team for Iraq match How to watch France vs Senegal for FREE Long-time assistant coach Guy Stephan has taken temporary charge and will head up Frances management team for tonights meeting with Stale Solbakkens Norway before handing the reins back to Deschamps for the round of 32 and beyond.Deschamps is a titan of the sport. Along with Mario Zagallo and Franz Beckenbauer he is one of only three men to win the World Cup both as a player and as a manager.Get FourFourTwo NewsletterThe best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.The stylish midfielder was a serial league championship and Champions League winner with Marseille and Juventus before ascending to the ultimate honour of captaining his national team to World Cup glory on home soil in 1998.He lifted the European Championship trophy in Rotterdam two years later.Deschamps has been Frances head coach since 2012 after enjoying further success in charge of Monaco, Juventus and Marseille. Les Bleus won the World Cup in Russia six years into his tenure, defeating Croatia in the final in Moscow. What to read next How to watch Norway vs France for FREE World Cup winner reveals identity of France monster who could take Les Bleus to third straight final How to watch France vs Northern Ireland for FREE: Live stream details They were agonisingly close again in Qatar, where they were beaten on penalties by Argentina in the final of World Cup 2022.Defeat in Lusail meant France didnt become the third nation to retain the World Cup and Deschamps didnt join Vittorio Pozzo as the only managers in history to win the competition twice in a row with the same country.The 57-year-old, who is ranked at no.73 in FourFourTwo's list of the greatest managers ever, will return to the United States for the remainder of World Cup 2026 and his last matches as the head coach of his countrys national team.It was announced last January that Deschamps would not remain in the job beyond the end of his current contract, which ends at the conclusion of this summers tournament.Zinedine Zidane, Deschamps former teammate, has been widely reported to be in line to succeed the two-time World Cup winner.TOPICSFranceNorwayWorld CupWorld Cup 2026Chris NeeChris is a Warwickshire-based freelance football writer specialising in West Midlands football, the Premier League, the EFL and the J.League. He is the author of the High Protein Beef Paste football newsletter and owner of Aston Villa Review. He supports Coventry Sphinx.
