Despite being eliminated from the title race, France has not yet ended its participation in the FIFA World Cup, as it will play the third-place match against England on Saturday in Miami, a purely symbolic clash, but one that will not be without stakes for 'Les Bleus'.

The 'small final' of the 2026 World Cup will have a special flavor, as it will be Didier Deschamps' last appearance as head coach of the national team.

The 57-year-old coach, who took over the role in 2012, will close a 14-year chapter at the helm of 'Les Bleus', and his players will naturally be eager to celebrate his departure in a fitting manner.

Although he did not succeed in winning a third world title after his triumphs in 1998 as a player and 2018 as a coach, Deschamps will be keen to end his era on a positive note before handing over the reins, likely to Zinedine Zidane, and moving on to new horizons.

His record will remain exceptional, having reached the semi-finals at least 5 times in 7 major tournaments (World Cup or European Championship) he has participated in as national team coach.

The bronze medal may not compensate a team and a coach who considered themselves on a mission to win the tournament, but it could help heal some wounds.

Kylian Mbappé (AFP)

Deschamps did not dwell on the upcoming fixture on Tuesday, given the great disappointment from the elimination by Spain in the semi-finals. Therefore, it is difficult to know whether Kylian Mbappé will take part in the match.

But the team captain may have personal motives to play, as the French star currently tops the scoring chart in the 23rd edition of the World Cup with eight goals, tied with Argentine Lionel Messi, with the latter having the advantage in assists.

He is also just one goal away from the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner who holds the record for the most goals scored in World Cup history with 21 goals.

For a player who is fond of statistics and obsessed with the impact he can leave on football history, these goals are far from trivial.

It will be very difficult for the French coaching staff to treat the encounter with England lightly, given the intense sporting rivalry between the two countries.

The rivalry with England is old due to geographical proximity, although it is more a matter of folklore between neighbors without real animosity. But the 'Three Lions' have not digested their loss to France in the quarter-finals of the 2022 World Cup, especially after the penalty missed by Harry Kane at the end of the match (1-2).

It will also be important to see how well they have recovered from their loss on Wednesday to Argentina in the semi-finals (1-2), after they were leading 1-0 until the 85th minute.

The third-place match often provides an opportunity to give players who have had limited playing time during the tournament some time on the pitch.

Deschamps may be inclined to maintain this tradition, rewarding substitutes who have shown exemplary behavior throughout more than a month, without expressing any complaints.

Without fielding an entirely reserve lineup, the coach may mix his starting eleven to satisfy the substitutes, while keeping a core of key leaders to maintain chances of winning.