France head coach Didier Deschamps will miss the national team’s upcoming World Cup preparations and their final Group I fixture against Norway after the death of his mother, the French Football Federation (FFF) announced on Tuesday.
In a statement released by the FFF, the federation confirmed that Deschamps received the news of his mother’s passing on Tuesday morning and will immediately return to France to attend her funeral.
As a result, the 57-year-old manager will be absent from training sessions leading up to Friday’s crucial World Cup clash against Norway and will not be on the bench for the match, scheduled for 9 p.m. local time.
The federation said that, in agreement with FFF president Philippe Diallo, Deschamps has temporarily handed responsibility for the national team to his long-serving assistant, Guy Stéphan, who will oversee preparations and lead the team during the encounter.
“Didier Deschamps will not be able to lead training sessions ahead of the Norway-France match. He will also not be present on the bench on Friday for the last match of the Bleus in Group I,” the federation said in its statement.
The FFF added that the decision was reached after consultations between Deschamps and Diallo, who is currently with the French delegation at the team’s World Cup base camp in the United States.
“In agreement with Philippe Diallo, the president of the French Football Federation, who is present at the France team’s base camp for the World Cup in the United States, Didier Deschamps has entrusted responsibility to his assistant, Guy Stéphan, to lead the group until his return,” the statement read.
The federation also expressed its condolences and support for the World Cup-winning coach and his family during the difficult period.
“In this extremely painful moment, we wish the coach and his family much courage and assure them of the support of everyone at the Federation,” the FFF stated.
Deschamps, one of the most successful coaches in French football history, has led Les Bleus since 2012, guiding the team to the 2018 FIFA World Cup title and several major tournament finals. His temporary absence comes as France prepare to conclude their Group I campaign at the ongoing World Cup in the United States.
Assistant coach Guy Stéphan, a trusted member of Deschamps’ technical staff for more than a decade, is expected to take charge of team affairs until the head coach returns following the funeral.
France’s match against Norway on Friday will proceed as scheduled, with the French squad seeking to maintain momentum in the tournament while rallying around their absent coach during a period of personal grief.
