Why France are targeting 'chocolate medal' in World Cup third-place play-off for departing manager Didier Deschamps in game 'none of us want to play'

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At the end of a gruelling World Cup campaign, and after a semi-final defeat, it is perhaps no surprise that France's players and manager are not thrilled about playing one final game at the tournament in North America.

Deschamps insists bronze final with England 'not a friendly'

Video credit: SNTV

But that is not to say they are without motivation for Saturday's 2026 FIFA World Cup bronze medal match against England.

The game in Miami will be the final match in charge for manager Didier Deschamps, after he announced last year that he would leave when his contract expires at the end of the tournament.

His tenure has been largely successful, winning the World Cup in Russia in 2018 and finishing runners-up in Qatar in 2022.

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France had looked the favourite for many weeks at this summer's tournament too, until they were defeated by Spain in the final four on Tuesday.

And ending on a strong note - with a bronze medal - is what Deschamps is aiming for, despite expressing his lack of enthusiasm at having to play in the match at all.

"I have a duty for this game," Deschamps told reporters on Friday. "It is not a friendly. It is a third-place play-off.

"The players, staff, and I have the duty to reach this last objective. It is less important than the final. England does not want to play this game, and neither do we. But here we are.

"We have to set our eyes on that goal to be third and make this final goal a reality. We have this duty ‌when wearing ⁠this jersey. In my head I know that it is my last match. I don't want anybody to cry. The end is near, but life goes on."

Deschamps will reportedly be replaced by former Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane after the tournament.

Defender Ibrahima Konate - who will join Real after the tournament - said the French team is eager to give the manager one last thing to celebrate, despite calling the bronze medal a "chocolate medal".

"None of us wanted to play for this third place, but we have no choice," Konate said. "We ⁠want to pay back our coach.

"He did so much for the France team. We must be grateful to him for that and we need to do everything we can to win this game, to get this chocolate medal, this bronze medal."

Aside from ending Deschamps' reign on a high, France can also go home with the Golden Boot award with Kylian Mbappe tied atop the standings with Argentina's Lionel Messi on eight goals.

Both have one game remaining - Messi and Argentina face Spain in Sunday's final - so a successful Saturday for Mbappe could prove to be decisive.

Deschamps did not confirm whether France's captain will feature in the game though, saying the 27-year-old is "available" for selection.

"Kylian [Mbappe] doesn’t need any extra motivation now that he’s got that personal goal, that seems fair enough to me, too," Deschamps said. "He might well have other things on his mind.

"But those things lead to decisions being made. Given what’s been done, well, that’ll be the end of it. It’s the final curtain.

"But this isn’t just any old match. It won’t change their lives, of course. But it’s a match, that’s all, and I’m not taking anything away from it. It’s better to finish third than fourth."

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