Didier Deschamps is savouring his final months as the head coach of France. He will step down after the 2026 World Cup, ending a tenure that began in 2012. France has not yet secured their place in the upcoming
tournament in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. However, a victory against Ukraine at Parc des Princes on Thursday would guarantee their spot.
In UEFA's World Cup qualifiers, France leads Group D by three points over Ukraine and six points ahead of Iceland. Azerbaijan trails with just one point. Deschamps has achieved 110 wins out of 173 matches, boasting a win rate of 63.6%. This record surpasses any other manager in Les Bleus' history, with Raymond Domenech managing only 79 games.
Deschamps emphasises the importance of focusing on the present moment. "The most important thing is what happens tomorrow," he stated. He values the experience gained from successive qualifications but remains focused on current challenges. "We are in 2025 and our goal is to qualify again," he added.
Rayan Cherki has been recalled for this month's matches. The creative midfielder previously earned two caps in June's Nations League before joining Manchester City. Cherki expressed his excitement about returning to Clairefontaine after five months away.
𝘐𝘮 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯@rayan_cherki is happy to be back at Clairefontaine, 5 months on from his last call-up pic.twitter.com/j6rMhJpZZT French Team (@FrenchTeam) November 11, 2025
Captain Kylian Mbappe praised Cherki's unique abilities, noting his impact at Manchester City and within the national team. "Cherki is a special talent," Mbappe said. "He has integrated very well into the group. "
France will also play against Azerbaijan in Baku on Sunday as they continue their qualifying campaign under Deschamps' leadership. The focus remains on securing qualification for next year's tournament while appreciating each moment along the way.
