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The disappointment is immense, but it doesn't erase all the good we've achieved. I won't take credit away from the Spanish national team; they controlled the game.
Didier Deschamps, France national team coach, after the World Cup semi-final defeat to Spain
Didier Deschamps' 14-year journey as France's national team coach concludes with a World Cup semi-final exit. This latest disappointment marks another setback for what was arguably the best national team of the last decade.
He departs with just one major title, the 2018 World Cup (he also won the 2021 Nations League). However, for those who consistently rank Portugal among the world's top national teams, consider France's achievements under Deschamps.
Across four World Cups, they reached the quarter-finals (2014), semi-finals (2026), the final (2022), and won the competition in 2018. In their three eliminations, they fell to Germany, Spain, and Argentina. In three European Championships, they lost the 2016 final at home to Portugal, were knocked out in the 2020 Round of 16 on penalties against Switzerland, and were eliminated in the 2024 semi-finals by Spain. With the exception of 2020, every team that eliminated Les Bleus went on to become champions.
During the same period, Portugal failed to advance past the World Cup group stage in 2014, was eliminated in the 2018 Round of 16 by Uruguay, in the 2022 quarter-finals by Morocco, and in the 2026 Round of 16 by Spain. In the Euros, after winning in 2016, they were knocked out in the 2020 Round of 16 by Belgium and in the 2024 quarter-finals by France.
While not a poor record, in seven major tournaments, the Portuguese national team reached the semi-finals only once. France, on the other hand, only missed the semi-finals twice. This puts into perspective what truly defines a great national team.
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