France coach Deschamps returns home after mother’s death

France coach Didier Deschamps’ mother has died. He is returning to France to attend her funeral. British media outlet BBC News reported this information in a report on Wednesday (June 24). The French Football Federation (FFF) said that he could not attend the team’s final group match against Norway due to a trip to France.
Deschamps, 57, received news of his mother’s death on Tuesday morning (June 23) local time. Then federation president Philippe Dioulo allowed him to return home to attend the funeral. France have already confirmed their place in the World Cup knockout stage. Having defeated Senegal and Iraq in their first two matches, the French will now face Norway in the Group ‘I’ top-ranking match in Boston, USA on Friday.
The French Football Federation said in a statement that assistant coach Guy Stéphane will temporarily take charge of the team in Deschamps’ absence. Deschamps was also one of France’s most successful footballers as a player. He was the captain of the 1998 World Cup-winning team. In 2012, he took over as head coach of the French national team. Under his leadership, France won the 2018 World Cup in Russia and finished as runners-up in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, losing to Argentina in the final. France are in excellent form in the ongoing tournament. After beating Senegal 3-1 in New Jersey, they won 3-0 against Iraq. However, the match was suspended for a two-hour break due to weather.