Mbappe pays tribute to ‘legend’ Deschamps ahead of final World Cup match
- France captain Kylian Mbappe paid an emotional tribute to Didier Deschamps ahead of the coach’s final match in charge, expressing regret that the players could not give him a better ending to his 14-year tenure.
- “Today is your last dance. You, who have given us so much. We should have given you a better ending, but we failed,” the 27-year-old forward wrote in a message before France’s third-place match against England.
- Deschamps, who took over in 2012, led France to victory in the 2018 World Cup and reached the final in 2022, with their 2026 campaign concluding in a semi-final defeat to Spain.
- “Putting into words what you have brought over 14 years is very difficult, because you have been such a major figure in the rebirth of this team,” Mbappe wrote. “People have not always known how to appreciate your greatness, but time and history will take care of that.”
- Mbappe expressed feeling privileged to have played under Deschamps, who captained France to the 1998 World Cup win, and wished him well in his future endeavours.
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