After his 187th and final match in charge – a record-extending 27th in World Cup finals – Deschamps bids a long-mooted farewell to the France national team.
Deschamps, who led France to World Cup glory in 2018, looked to go out with a bang as he started both Mbappe and Michael Olise – top scorer and assist leader in this competition respectively. And a banger this was.
But his tenure ended in a first competitive defeat against England since 1982 despite a much improved second-half display – after a first period which threatened historic embarrassment.
France were overwhelming in attack at times, but they found England stand-in keeper Henderson in fine form as he made smart saves from Rayan Cherki, Mbappe and Dembele. Olise, meanwhile, missed two clear chances as he ends the tournament without a goal.
Following an appalling, unengaged first half, France’s quality and energy after the break rattled England – but Les Bleus fell to a defeat as enthralling as it was surreal.
This game featured the joint fifth most goals of any World Cup match, level with France 7-3 Paraguay in 1958, and the most of any game in the tournament since Hungary 10-1 El Salvador in 1982.
