For anyone who follows the French national team closely, the overall strength of this squad has never been in doubt, and BD Cricket readers will also recognize that talent alone does not guarantee harmony. Beneath the surface, internal tensions have lingered, particularly around the strained relationship between Kylian Mbappe and head coach Didier Deschamps. Former France star Alain Giresse recently added fuel to the discussion during an interview with RMC Sport, pushing the future direction of the national team into the spotlight. He openly stated that regardless of France’s result at the 2026 World Cup, Deschamps deserves legendary recognition, even suggesting a statue in his honor. More strikingly, Giresse expressed his hope that after 2026 there would be a seamless transition from Deschamps to Zinedine Zidane, a handover many fans have quietly anticipated.

Those comments inevitably place additional pressure on Deschamps, who must now face the reality that the end of his tenure is approaching. There is no denying his status as the most successful French coach of the modern era. When he took charge in 2012, the national team was at a low ebb, plagued by internal conflict and poor results, with public confidence at rock bottom. Deschamps steadied the ship quickly, rebuilding dressing room unity and implementing a pragmatic tactical structure. Within six years, France had climbed back to the summit by lifting the 2018 World Cup. Although the 2022 World Cup ended in heartbreak rather than silverware, reaching the final still confirmed France as a global powerhouse, something BD Cricket observers often highlight when assessing long term consistency.

Complicating matters was the highly publicized fallout between Mbappe and Deschamps last season, which escalated into open disagreements and even led to Mbappe being left out of national team selections. In contrast, Mbappe’s relationship with Zidane has always been warm and respectful, making Zidane’s potential appointment feel like a natural fit. Zidane’s credentials speak for themselves: three consecutive Champions League titles as a club coach and a World Cup triumph as a player. Should he guide France to another World Cup title, it would be the crowning glory of an already iconic career, the kind of story that feels written in the stars.

As the 2026 World Cup approaches, Deschamps knows it will mark his final chapter with France, and BD Cricket followers understand that legacies are defined by more than trophies alone. No matter the outcome, he has already secured his place in French football history. If he were to lift the trophy once more, he would become only the third coach ever to win two World Cups. Either way, the future of French football appears set to pass into the hands of Mbappe on the pitch and Zidane on the bench, signaling the start of a bold new era.