‘If we could have avoided it…’ – Didier Deschamps opens up on France’s game against Ukraine on November 13 | OneFootball

France national team manager Didier Deschamps said on Thursday that he would have preferred if France’s 2026 World Cup qualifier against Ukraine would have been scheduled on a different day that next Thursday. Ten years ago, on Friday, November 13 2015, a series of coordinated terrorist attacks hit Paris. 137 people were killed.

The attacks started at Saint-Denis’ Stade de France, where Didier Deschamps’ France team were facing Germany for a friendly game. Ten years later, on November 13, 2025, Les Bleus will turn up again at Stade de France. Asked on the scheduling of the Ukraine game, Deschamps said it would have been good if Les Bleus could have avoided playing that day. “Was it possible? I don’t have the answers, it’s not up to me.“

Deschamps added that, out of respect for the families who lost loved ones, he did not feel strong enough to talk about that day’s horrific events. “There is a remembrance duty, but there’s a football game.” According to L’Equipe, UEFA has agreed the French FA’s request to organize a special commemoration, which will also address the war in Ukraine.

GFFN | Bastien Cheval