Online Reporter
France coach Didier Deschamps is to return home after his mother died and will miss his team’s final World Cup Group I match with Norway, the French Football Federation announced Tuesday.
“Didier Deschamps will not be able to be on the bench on Friday for the final Group I game,” said the federation in a statement.
“The coach had the painful experience this morning of learning of the death of his mother. He will return to France to attend the funeral.”
In Deschamps’s absence, his assistant Guy Stephan will take charge of the squad until the 57-year-old’s return.
Having already qualified for the last 32 following a 3-1 victory over Senegal and a 3-0 win against Iraq, France will be aiming to top their group when they face Erling Haaland and Norway on Friday in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
It is Deschamps’s final tournament in charge of France.
During his 14-year reign, France won the 2018 World Cup, but lost in both the 2022 World Cup final — on penalties to Argentina — and to Portugal in the Euro 2016 final.
Meanwhile, Panama were eliminated from World Cup contention after Croatia kept their hopes of progressing to the last 32 alive with a hard-fought 1-0 win on Tuesday.
Croatia, who made it to the last four of the 2018 and 2022 tournaments, were looking to bounce back after a 4-2 defeat to England in their opening Group L game .
In the end, Ante Budimir’s 54th minute goal proved enough to see off the spirited Central Americans.
“You cannot win a match if you don’t score,” said Panama’s Danish-born coach Thomas Christiansen. But he told reporters he was “super proud” of his players for how they battled against the higher-ranked Croatian side.
Despite being eliminated from the tournament, Christiansen said Panama had taken strides forward.
“These players, after these two World Cup matches, won’t be where they are today.”
Croatia’s most celebrated player, Luka Modric, was making his 200th international appearance, but his early headed effort on goal sailed over the bar.
Under Christiansen, Panama have implemented a tight defensive structure that helped them secure their second-ever World Cup appearance.
But it was the Panamanian offence that almost made the difference in the first half.
They face England in what will be their final match of the tournament on Friday.
Croatia have three points and will face Ghana, who moved onto four points after holding England to a goalless draw earlier, for a place in the final 32.
After the match, Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic was asked about Modric’s milestone international appearance, and whether the AC Milan midfielder was uncomfortable being the focus of adulation. – SuperSport.
