Didier Deschamps avoids sack as France chief insists much-criticised manager did meet Euro 2024 targets

Didier Deschamps will stay on as France manager after the country’s football chief insisted they met their targets for Euro 2024.

Les Bleus scored just once from open play throughout the Euros as they reached the semi-finals on the back of a sturdy defence, only to lose 2-1 to Spain on Tuesday night.

French media and fans have criticised Deschamps’ style of play and selection amid calls for Zinedine Zidane to take over, but he is set to continue to at least the 2026 World Cup after receiving the backing of French Football Federation boss Philippe Diallo.

“He does indeed have a contract [to 2026] and has fulfilled the objective that was given to him,” he told L’Equipe.

“And when we look at his career as the head of the French team, it is exceptional. Didier led this team in the best possible way during the Euros.

“I do not see any reason to question his contract. Past results speak in his favour and the objectives have been met. Didier will continue his mission.

“We will discuss together in the coming days to analyse in more depth what we lacked during this semi-final and what would have allowed us to go further. In the last month I have seen a lot of professionalism and a search for excellence. We must keep the French team moving in this direction.”

Diallo will hold talks with Deschamps to ensure the former midfielder, who won the World Cup as a player in 1998 and as a coach in 2018, wants to continue in his post.

France’s record under the 55-year-old is somewhat mixed despite that world title in Russia. While entering the last three Euros as favourites, they have failed to lift the trophy but they have reached the last two World Cup finals and lost to Argentina on penalties in the Qatar final of 2022.

Diallo said of their Euro 2024 efforts: “The overall result is positive insofar as the objective of reaching the semi-final was achieved.

“We must never trivialise such a result. Reaching the last four is a demonstration of our high-level performance that shows that the French team remains competitive and in the elite of the great football nations.

“But this morning there is a bitter taste because we were all dreaming of a final on July 14, which would have been a wonderful reward for the players, the staff and all the French people who follow this team.”