India, July 19 -- France captain Kylian Mbappe paid an emotional tribute to Didier Deschamps following Les Bleus' 4-6 defeat to England in the FIFA World Cup 2026 third-place playoff on Saturday (July 18). With Deschamps set to step down after more than a decade in charge of the national team, Mbappe insisted that one disappointing result should not overshadow the remarkable legacy the veteran coach has built with France.

Kylian Mbappe Backs Didier Deschamps After England Defeat

Speaking after France missed out on a podium finish, Mbappe urged fans and critics to judge Deschamps by his entire body of work rather than a single defeat. The French skipper said the outgoing manager had transformed the national team into one of world footbal...