Farewells and holiday exits as Didier Deschamps era ends for France in Miami | OneFootball

France’s 4-6 defeat to England in Miami’s third-place play-off ushered in holiday departures and closed Didier Deschamps’s reign after six weeks together. According to L'Équipe, most of the squad left Florida within hours.

By eight pm at Hard Rock Stadium, the mixed zone saw Aurélien Tchouaméni, Jules Koundé and Malo Gusto reflect on the loss. In the dressing room Deschamps was emotional, offering thanks, and at half-time he stressed pride and the duty to give everything.

Michael Olise wept over his second-half misses. Goodbyes full of hugs and photos followed, while Adrien Rabiot’s sharp beIN Sports remarks about unacceptable first-half behaviour had not yet reached some team-mates. Lucas Digne, N’Golo Kanté, Désiré Doué and others boarded the coach for France.

Elsewhere black vans lined up for those heading straight on holiday, security coordinating exits. Ibrahima Konaté climbed into one, face set. Kylian Mbappé, phone to ear, fist-bumped Gusto before slipping away, and Tchouaméni and Marcus Thuram left together as Gusto lingered in evening attire.

It felt surreal to see the Ballon d’Or on a gloomy car park, rehashing the match and hunting for a van. After teasing Jean-Philippe Mateta, Ousmane Dembélé finally left, with Mateta trailed by friends and family. Olise, in black slides and a white vest, the Munich player, looked beach ready.

Inside, England head coach Thomas Tuchel closed his briefing by saluting Deschamps again. By nine pm every van and the coach had gone. The World Cup, and an era, faded into Miami’s humid night on a bleak car park.

Source: L'Équipe