French president Emmanuel Macron issues plea over Didier Deschamps' contract

France president Emmanuel Macron has urged the French Football Federation to hand Les Bleus coach Didier Deschamps a new contract after guiding the country to successive World Cup finals.

Deschamps’ current deal, signed in 2019, expires at the end of the tournament.

The former France captain is one of few men in history to win the World Cup as both a player and manager, while come Sunday he could become the first men’s team coach to win consecutive titles since Vittorio Pozzo, who guided Italy to glory in 1934 and 1938.

Deschamps also took France to the Euro 2016 final earlier in his tenure, as well as winning the most recent edition of the UEFA Nations League in 2021 to underpin his stellar record.

“Our compatriots need simple and pure joy, sport provides it and football in particular,” president Macron told reporters after watching his country against Morocco.

“I am much better now than an hour and a half ago. We have sometimes suffered but we have seen a very great team,” he added.

“A huge thank you to our coach, Didier Deschamps, and to this team which is in fact a mixture of several generations, and that's what is great.

“Deschamps, it's three finals, and he wins them! Never two without three, Deschamps is there, with his baraka and his talent. We bring back the Cup and obviously Deschamps must stay! This French team makes me very proud.”

France face Argentina in Sunday’s World Cup final, which stands to the last game that seven-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi ever plays in the competition as his quest to claim the only major title that still eludes him comes to a climactic end.

Harry Symeou hosts Andy Headspeath, Quentin Gesp and Jack Gallagher to look back on the 2018 World Cup finals in Russia - join us!

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