Didier Deschamps says no tears will be shed as he prepares to take charge of his final France match in the World Cup third-place play-off against England.
It comes as Thomas Tuchel says England’s players carry the “scars” of a painful World Cup exit, admitting there was still a gap to close to the top nations.
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France faces England in Miami at 7am Sunday morning (AEST) after the Three Lions lost to defending champions Argentina – and Deschamps’ men were beaten 2-0 by European champions Spain.
England boss Tuchel has been heavily criticised for his defensive substitutions in a 2-1 semi-final defeat by Argentina in Atlanta.
Anthony Gordon put England on track to reach their first World Cup final since 1966 but late goals from Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez turned the match around.
“I tried to help, I tried to support,” said the German, taking charge of his first major tournament with England.
Argentina STUN England with late goals | 02:54
“I took a decision, I took several decisions, trusting my instinct, my intuition, my experience, trusting my competitiveness and I took the decision in order to help the team and get the result.
“We didn’t get the result, so I take, of course, the responsibility for these decisions.
“We have to live with this, so it’s our pain, my pain and the players’ pain – we feel the most pain of all. And it is our scar that we carry now.”
Meanwhile, Deschamps has enjoyed a successful reign, winning the World Cup in 2018 and reaching the final in Qatar four years ago, having also won it as a player in 1998.
His talented team were favourites to win a third World Cup for France at the 2026 tournament but lost 2-0 to European champions Spain in the semi-finals.
“I know that the final curtain falls tomorrow,” Deschamps said at his pre-match press conference. “No one here is going to cry, but I know I’ll miss the French team.
France STUNNED by supreme Spain | 02:20
“For 15 years (he was appointed in 2012), I had the privilege of experiencing moments that were magical, and others that were difficult. But life goes on. I’m a positive person, and I know things will be good, too. It’s the best thing that ever happened to me.
“It took up 25 years of my life and left a lasting mark. Unforgettable memories remain. But the most important thing is always what lies ahead.”
Deschamps, who was captain when France won the World Cup on home soil in 1998, said his team were not playing the match they wanted to be in for his final game in charge. But he said he had a duty to take the third-place playoff seriously, as it was not a friendly.
“The players, the staff and I have the duty to give it all and reach this last objective, less important than winning a final, but we are here,” he said.
“The English team doesn’t want to play, and neither do we, but there is an objective, there is a game to play.”
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