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France head coach Didier Deschamps has admitted that neither his team nor England are particularly eager to contest the World Cup third-place play-off. The match in Miami will serve as a bittersweet farewell for the long-serving French manager, following a heartbreaking semi-final defeat to Spain.

Deschamps acknowledges lack of motivation

Speaking ahead of what will be his final game in charge, Deschamps was forthright about the mental challenge facing his squad. The disappointment of missing out on a third consecutive final, he said, has drained much of their enthusiasm. The upcoming fixture against Thomas Tuchel’s Three Lions may be a meeting between European powerhouses — France previously finished third in 1958 and 1986, and fourth in 1982, while England have twice finished fourth, in 1990 and 2018, without ever claiming third — but the 57-year-old conceded that both teams are struggling to find motivation for what many view as one of international football’s least meaningful contests.

Addressing the media in Miami, Deschamps emphasised that while the glamour of the occasion has diminished, professional duty still applies. He remarked, “I have a duty for this game. It is not friendly. It is a third-place playoff. The players, staff, and I have the duty to reach this last objective. It is less important than the final. England does not want to play this game, and neither do we. But here we are.”

Commitment to the French jersey

Despite the subdued atmosphere following their 2-0 loss to Spain, Deschamps has urged his players to uphold professionalism and honour the national shirt. The goal remains to finish third in the world in what will be the fourth World Cup meeting between the two sides. England won their group-stage encounters in 1966 and 1982, while France emerged victorious in their 2022 quarter-final clash.

Reflecting on the mental challenge of preparing for the match, Deschamps highlighted the importance of pride and responsibility. “We have to set our eyes on that goal to be third and make this final goal a reality. We have this duty when wearing this jersey. In my head, I know that it is my last match. I don't want anybody to cry. The end is near, but life goes on,” he said.

Konate aims for a winning farewell

Echoing his manager’s sentiments, Real Madrid’s new summer signing, defender Ibrahima Konate, admitted that the team remains deflated after their semi-final exit. However, the squad’s motivation has now shifted towards gratitude, as they view the England encounter as a final opportunity to pay tribute to Deschamps’ successful era. Konate, who featured for only 14 minutes in the tournament — coming on as a substitute in the 4-1 group-stage win over Norway after France had already sealed qualification — expressed the team’s determination to deliver one last victory.

“None of us wanted to play for this third place, but we have no choice. We want to pay back our coach,” Konate said. “He did so much for the France team. We must be grateful to him for that, and we need to do everything we can to win this game... to get this chocolate medal, this bronze medal.”

Legacy of a legendary manager

As France prepare for their last match of the 2026 World Cup, attention naturally turns to Deschamps’ remarkable legacy. Since taking the reins in 2012, he has guided Les Bleus through a golden era — winning the 2018 World Cup, reaching the 2022 final, finishing runners-up at Euro 2016, and capturing the 2020–2021 Nations League title. The Miami fixture marks the final chapter of a storied tenure that transformed France into one of the world’s most consistent footballing powers, even if this concluding act is not the one Deschamps or his players had envisioned for their farewell.