World Cup 2026: Didier Drogba ‘very funny and motivated’ says Marion Bartoli

Deschamps captained France to World Cup victory as a player in 1998 – and was manager when they repeated that feat in 2018.

During his 14 years in charge, they have also reached another World Cup final – losing to Argentina on penalties in 2022 – and lost to Portugal in the European Championship final in 2016.

Should they beat Spain, his last tournament as manager will end with a match against either Argentina or England.

“What he cares about is taking this generation to become world champions,” said Bartoli. “They won in 2018, made the final in 2022, and he really wants to go out on a high now.

“Spain are going to be a tough opponent. He knows it. We lost to them in the Euros, so he wants to get revenge, absolutely.”

Bartoli feels Deschamps has not received the praise he deserves because of high expectation levels in French sport.

“In France we have 67 million coaches trying to get the French team to win,” she said. “It’s not an easy job but he does it brilliantly.

“We have been so spoiled over the years to have incredible players – the likes of Thierry Henry, Zinedine Zidane, Eric Cantona – and we kind of feel every single time we have to win.

“For me, he doesn’t get the reward and the press he should get based on the extraordinary results, but that’s France and he knows about it.”

Bartoli says the perfect ending to Deschamps’ spell as French boss would be to lift the World Cup trophy on 19 July.

Whatever happens, she expects him to have a future in the game.

“I’m sure, knowing him, he will go on another adventure,” she said. “I don’t know if he’s going to be at a club and where.

“He’s probably going to take a year off, but he loves his football too much to walk away from it.

“He absolutely wants to go out on a high and obviously winning would be the best. He is a true winner.”