France postpone plans to honour former boss Didier Deschamps as Zinedine Zidane takes the spotlight

The French Football Federation has postponed plans to honour former France manager Didier Deschamps at the Stade de France, with attention instead focused on Zinedine Zidane’s return to the stadium.

France will not hold a tribute for Deschamps during their upcoming UEFA Nations League matches against Italy on 2 October or Belgium on 5 October, according to French network RMC Sport.

The return of the national team to home soil had been viewed as an opportunity for the federation to pay a final tribute to Deschamps, who led France for 14 years. However, no ceremony is scheduled for either of the two fixtures.

The French Football Federation said the decision was related to timing, with the focus expected to be on Zidane returning to the ground where he achieved the greatest successes of his career.

Deschamps had the longest managerial tenure in the history of the France national team before handing over to Zidane after the last World Cup, where France finished fourth. Since then, the manager who guided France to the 2018 World Cup title has not announced his next challenge or confirmed a return to football.

RMC Sport reported that Deschamps will not be honoured at the Stade de France on Friday, nor during the meeting with Belgium on the following Monday.

France’s next gathering will include only one home match, against Turkey in Bordeaux on 15 November, as they complete the UEFA Nations League group stage. That fixture also does not currently appear to provide a suitable occasion for the federation to mark Deschamps’ legacy properly.

No date has yet been set for a tribute. If a ceremony is arranged, it is likely to take place in the spring of next year, provided France qualify for the UEFA Nations League quarter-finals.

France must finish in one of the top two positions in their group to reach that stage. Should they do so, they will play a home quarter-final in late March, which could offer the federation another opportunity to recognise Deschamps’ contribution to the national team.