Deschamps: Blame me for unacceptable first-half collapse

Didier Deschamps took responsibility for France's "unacceptable" first-half collapse in a 6-4 defeat at the hands of England on Saturday, as his extraordinary 14-year reign as national team coach ended in painful fashion.

France trailed 4-0 at halftime in the World Cup third-place playoff before mounting a spirited recovery, but the late rally was not enough to prevent Deschamps'185th and final match in charge from ending in a loss.

"It is a defeat, but we were 4-0 down. We produced an unacceptable first half," Deschamps told reporters. "There was a reaction, with the things we know how to do well. We had two chances to make it 4-4, but we pushed forward a little more.

"That is what we know how to do, but we didn't do it. It is my fault, because I must not have done what was needed in the first half."

Deschamps said the performance after the break at least restored pride, though he admitted the sporting disappointment of France's tournament remained considerable, after it had arrived in North America bidding to win a third world title.

"It would have been better to finish third," he said. "We came here with a lot of ambition. We managed to do quite a few positive things.

"We failed in our match against Spain, and they knew how to perform against us. This is a group with footballing quality. There was enough talent to get results," Deschamps added.

"On a human level, it was a beautiful adventure. Eight weeks, it was beautiful."

France's 2-0 semifinal defeat to Spain ended its hopes of reaching a third successive World Cup final, before England inflicted another painful blow on the coach who had turned Les Bleus into one of world soccer's dominant forces.

"The disappointment is there on a sporting level," Deschamps said. "We had the opportunity to create emotions for tens of millions of French people. It is the World Cup, there is nothing more beautiful."

The French Football Federation paid a glowing tribute to Deschamps, who leaves after 185 matches and 120 victories in charge.

"Didier Deschamps embodied high standards, rigor, a sense of the collective and love for the blue shirt," the FFF said in a statement.

"Under his leadership, for 14 years, the France team regained credibility, respect and affection, while remaining at the highest level in the world."

Deschamps led France to the 2018 World Cup title and 2021 Nations League crown, as well as the Euro 2016 and 2022 World Cup finals.

As a player, Deschamps captained France to its first World Cup triumph in 1998 and won the European Championship two years later, before becoming only the third man to win the World Cup as both player and coach.

"Few will have given as much to the blue shirt as a player and, then, as coach," the FFF said. "Thank you, Didier."

And while Deschamps' final match provided none of the controlled, disciplined soccer that came to define much of his tenure, the chaotic defeat did little to diminish a legacy that transformed France into one of the most consistent teams of the modern era.

"This match will not tarnish the legend of Didier Deschamps," said French captain Kylian Mbappe, a key member of the incredibly gifted squad that Zinedine Zidane will inherit when he officially replaces his former teammate at the helm of Les Bleus.