Didier Deschamps: Emotion and celebration as France manager prepares for homefarewell

As Rabiot predicts, celebrations in Lille are likely.

In their previous game in Nantes on Thursday – a surprise 2-1 defeat by the Ivory Coast – fans paid tribute to Deschamps by holding up cardboard cut outs which bore his image during the match.

But for the manager, he is not letting his own farewell take away from the team’s send off.

“Ever since I came in to camp, there’s lots of things that I’ve done for the last time, so I’m not trying to think about all these things.

“I’m not too sad, I’m not going to be happy about it. What’s important for me is beyond my personal case.”

Deschamps, who has also guided France to the last World Cup final, the Euro 2016 final and the Nations League title in 2021, thanked the French support for the gesture.

Les Bleus will play Senegal, Iraq and Erling Haaland’s Norway in Group I in the USA, and Deschamps wants “the positive things” from fans before they head to the finals.

“The tribute was nice, and even though it was during the match and the players were playing, I was trying to be focused on what’s happening on the field,” he added.

“These two matches in France before we leave for the US, being close to the supporters and lots of the people who are not able to go to the US, we’re trying to get as much energy, trying to get as much good vibes from the supporters as we can, and these are positive things for the French team.”