Didier Deschamps, a life in blue, from first cap to Euro glory and bench heartbreak | OneFootball

Didier Deschamps bowed out on Saturday night with his final match in blue, closing a 14-year reign after 103 games as a player and 185 as coach.

His first cap on 29 April 1989 against Yugoslavia ended in a 0-0 draw that killed 1990 World Cup hopes. On 17 November 1993 Bulgaria won 2-1 in added time when a draw would have sufficed.

On 22 March 1994 he first wore the armband against Chile, a 3-1 win. On 12 July 1998 he captained the 3-0 World Cup final win over Brazil.

On 28 June 2000 he became the first to reach 100 France caps, in a Euro semi-final against Portugal won 2-1. On 2 July he lifted Euro 2000, then retired from internationals a few months later.

He took charge on 15 August 2012, debuting with a 0-0 against Uruguay. On 19 November 2013 they overturned a 0-2 first leg in Kiev by winning 3-0 in Paris, triggering an extension to 2016.

On 10 July 2016 France lost the Euro final to Portugal, Eder deciding it in added time. On 15 July 2018 he led a squad featuring Antoine Griezmann, Kylian Mbappé and Paul Pogba to the World Cup title.

On 18 December 2022 Argentina won on penalties, 4-2, after a 3-3 epic sparked by Mbappé. On 18 July 2026 the third place play-off against England finished 4-6, closing an era in which no one stayed longer or won more.

Source: L'Équipe