Deschamps, who has led France to World Cup and Nations League glory, will leave his post after FIFA’s next global tournament. In an interview with L’Équipe, he called Zidane a “natural choice” to take over.

“Zidane is a very good option,” Deschamps said. “There is a lot of respect between us. But in the end, it will be his choice and the decision of the French Football Federation.”

The FFF president, Philippe Diallo,  echoed the same opinion, saying: “He is a legend of French and world football. He played a key role in our first World Cup win. He has my full respect.”

Zidane has always been open to leading Kylian Mbappe’s teammates. In an interview on French TV back in 2022, he made it clear: “I want to coach France. I hope it happens one day.”

Despite stepping down, Deschamps made one thing clear – he is not retiring. “I’m leaving something that has been great for many years, but I am not stopping coaching. There are many options for the future.”

The 56-year-old is France’s longest-serving coach, having been in charge since 2012.

He led Les Bleus to victory at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, as well as reaching the final of the 2022 tournament in Qatar and Euro 2016 on home soil.

“In 2026 it will be over. In my head it’s very clear,” Deschamps told French broadcaster TF1.

“I’ve done my time, with the same desire and passion to maintain France at the highest level.

“One has to be able to say stop, there’s a life after this. The most important is for France to stay at the top as they have been for many years.”

France have yet to begin their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign, with their group dependant on the result of their Nations League quarter-final against Croatia in March.

Former midfielder Deschamps is only the third man after Mario Zagallo and Franz Beckenbauer to win the World Cup as both player and manager, having captained his country to glory in 1998.

He succeeded Laurent Blanc after France’s quarter-final exit at Euro 2012 and secured qualification for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, where Les Bleus were beaten by eventual champions Germany in the last eight.

In 2016 he led the team to the final of their home European Championship, but they were beaten by Portugal after extra time.

His crowning moment arrived two years later, as France lifted the World Cup for a second time following a 4-2 win over Croatia in Moscow.

A Nations League title followed in 2021 before they again reached the World Cup final in Qatar, only to be denied by Argentina on penalties following a thrilling 3-3 draw.

Before taking charge of France Deschamps had spells in charge of Monaco, Juventus and Marseille, winning at least one trophy with each.

Prior to that he had enjoyed a stellar playing career at domestic and international level.

He won 14 major honours, including Champions League titles with Marseille and Juventus, and the FA Cup with Chelsea.

The defensive midfielder also earned 103 caps for France, captaining the national team to victory at the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000.

Les Bleus have been criticised by some for a lack of entertainment in their matches, with BBC pundit and former Premier League striker Chris Sutton last week saying he would “close the curtains” if they were playing in his back garden.

It comes after France have reached the last four of the tournament in Germany with none of their players scoring a goal from open play.

Their three goals at the Euros have been two own goals and a penalty scored by Kylian Mbappe in the 1-1 draw with Poland in the group stage.

In Monday’s pre-match news conference, Deschamps was asked about playing “boring football” by one journalist, to which he responded: “If you are bored, watch another game – you don’t have to watch us, it’s fine.

“Maybe it’s not the same as it was in the past, but we do have the capability to spark emotions and make lots of French men and women happy with our results, especially after a difficult period in our country.”

Spain boss Luis de la Fuente dismissed the suggestion that France are boring, saying at this stage it is all about the result.

“We all try to build a gameplan that will help you win,” he said.

“Spain are an eye-catching team, I won’t deny that, it’s our DNA, but in the end, here it’s about winning. We want to play, but we want to be practical.

“Our way to get the result is to try to be eye-catching. But at this stage it’s the result that counts because it is how your job will get judged and evaluated in the end.”

Mbappe ‘in the right headspace’ despite poor form

Key to France’s lack of goals has been the disappointing form of forwards Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann.

Mbappe has struggled since having to wear a mask after breaking his nose during France’s opening 1-0 win against Austria.

The striker, who this summer joined Real Madrid from Paris St-Germain, scored eight of France’s 16 goals at the World Cup in Qatar two years ago as they reached the final, where they were beaten by Argentina.

Despite just scoring one goal so far in Germany, France captain Mbappe is likely to start against Spain.

“We are convinced Kylian is in the right headspace, as are all of our players,” Deschamps added.

“He had an issue with his back, took a blow to the nose – it could have been the end of the road for him but he’s still here.

“His field of vision is changed and it was a huge shock to him but I’m convinced he will do everything he can [against Spain].”

Atletico Madrid striker Griezmann has yet to score, but team-mate Adrien Rabiot says all the players are right behind him.

“I think everyone is surprised because we know what Antoine is capable of,” Rabiot said.

“We saw what he pulled out of the bag at the World Cup, where he was at the peak of his powers as a player.

“I don’t know the reason. We have high expectations when it comes to Antoine and we expect a lot because he’s capable.

“If someone’s having a rough patch then we’re here to support them, but obviously it’d be better if we had the Kylian and the Antoine [we know] playing here at the Euros.”

Spain looking to keep strong run going

IMAGE SOURCE: GETTY IMAGES

Image caption: Spain are the highest scorers at Euro 2024 with 11 goals in five games

By contrast, Spain have been in excellent form at Euro 2024, winning all five games and scoring the most goals with 11.

They also have two of the most exciting youngsters at the tournament in Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams.

But despite their impressive results, Spain were pushed by hosts Germany in the quarter-finals, before Mikel Merino’s 119th-minute header sealed a 2-1 win.

Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella has been particularly impressive for Spain at this European Championship, and he will be key to ensuring France’s forward line are frustrated once again.

“We are a group of players that give everything for our team-mates and that’s one of the secrets,” Cucurella said.

“I think we have created a great group. We have a mix of veterans and very young players and that makes it all very enjoyable. The key is to be like a family.

“We may not have superstars, but as a team we are good, we are doing well and I hope we keep it that way.”

They beat Austria in their opening game, but only with an own-goal winner. A 0-0 draw with the Netherlands followed before they shared the spoils in a 1-1 stalemate with Poland.

Didier Deschamps’ side lifted the 2018 World Cup and finished runners-up at the 2022 tournament in Qatar, but they have failed to sparkle as expected in Germany.

“Suddenly the ruthlessness we’ve been used to is just not there any more,” French football journalist Julian Laurens told BBC Radio 5 Live’s Football Daily podcast.

Despite being below-par, France have at least managed to reach the last 16 and face Belgium on Monday (17:00 BST).

But if Deschamps fails to guide his side to the quarter-finals after ending up on the trickier side of the draw, he could get “torn apart”.

“There’s this lack of momentum, where usually that is not there either,” added Laurens. “Suddenly the few certainties you had before are not even there anymore.

“Bring on the last 16, for sure. That’s where they’ll be judged.”

‘This is not the team we expected’

France created 5.93 expected goals in their three group-stage games but failed to score from open play, with their two goals being the Austria own goal and a penalty for Kylian Mbappe against Poland.

Laurens said “there’s a point where it starts getting really worrying” if they keep struggling in front of goal.

“They’ve been a bit underwhelming, certainly in the last game against Poland,” he added.

“The fact that they create chances is something the players and Deschamps keep repeating, saying ‘the chances are there, we’re just not taking them’.”

Deschamps has been France manager since 2012 and led his team to three major finals, but they have not been able to replicate that form at Euro 2024.

Laurens said: “This is not the team we expected, this is not the team we used to know in big tournaments.

“That’s maybe where the worry is because if Deschamps has lost the thing that made him and that team special… maybe that’s because it’s been too long – he’s been there for 10 years now.”

‘France are going to have a tough time’

German football expert Raphael Honigstein said it was “beyond carelessness” that France failed to beat already-eliminated Poland to win the group – and therefore ended up on the side of the draw with Spain, Germany and Portugal.

“You can have bad performances but to give away winning a group and being on the much easier side of the group in that fashion, that’s really stupid,” he said.

With France struggling, Spanish football journalist Guillem Balague said it hands their opponents “an opportunity to have a go”.

“It’s probably the only chance in the whole tournament we’re going to have a chance to have a go at France before they win it,” he added.

“It’s no question, they’re going to have a tough time to actually win this one.”

Belgium reached the last 16 by finishing second in Group E, where all four teams were tied on four points.

They recorded just one win – a 2-0 success against eventual group winners Romania.

‘The players aren’t worried’

The knockouts could be an opportunity for France to show their true strength, although Laurens said the lack of “confidence” will not help.

“I guess we have to trust them,” he added. “They’re not worried. The players aren’t worried, Deschamps isn’t worried – he says it’s now that the competition starts, which is partly true of course.

“But I guess it’s easier to approach a knockout stage at a big tournament like this if you have a bit of confidence, some momentum if you’ve done well.”

Winning against neighbours Belgium is crucial, or Deschamps could face a “brutal” reaction in his homeland.

Laurens said: “We’ll see against Belgium, the old enemy of course, and so much rivalry. There’s more than just a football match.

“If France don’t win that one – if they win and don’t play well then it won’t matter so much – then I think it could be quite brutal against Deschamps.”

Mbappe suffered a broken nose in the opening win over Austria and sat on the bench for the goalless draw with the Netherlands.

The striker, who will join Real Madrid on 1 July, did not require an operation but will need to wear a protective mask when he returns to the starting XI.

“He is doing better today than yesterday and the day before that. That is obvious because he has been training,” said Deschamps.

“The bruising has come down and he is getting used to the mask. He is as eager to play tomorrow as he was eager to play against the Netherlands.

“He does not find that the mask limits him but it does restrict his vision a little. He needs to get used to it, even though the technology nowadays allows these masks to be as thin as possible.”

France’s place in the last 16 was confirmed on Monday after Spain beat Albania and Deschamps’ side will top Group D if they win and the Netherlands do not.

Lewandowski hoping for ‘best match’

Poland have also been without their star striker, with Robert Lewandowski on the bench for their first two group matches because of a thigh injury.

The Barcelona forward, who came on with half an hour to go against Austria, could be fit to start against France.

After seeing his side lose to the Netherlands and Austria, the 35-year-old is hoping for an improved performance in Dortmund.

“I hope we will play our best match of the tournament,” he said.

“Although we have only pride to play for, I hope we will play good football, create opportunities and score goals.

“We know we cannot fall apart even if things get tough. We need to have a plan and stick to it from start to finish regardless of the outcome.”

The 55-year-old has been in charge since 2012 and in that time he has led his country to three out of five possible finals and won one World Cup.

That success in 2018 meant he joined a select few who have won a world title both as a manager and a player, and this summer he has the chance to make more history.

Should he lead France to glory in Germany, he will become only the second person to win a European Championship as both a player and a manager, after German Berti Vogts, and the first to have achieved the ‘double-double’

Not bad for someone who was once dismissed as a “water carrier”.

From ‘water carrier’ to serial winner

IMAGE SOURCE: GETTY IMAGES

Image caption: Didier Deschamps captained Marseille to the 1993 Champions League when he was 24

Deschamps’ career both as a player and an international manager stands among the best.

Widely regarded as one of the best defensive midfielders of his generation, the former Marseille, Juventus and Chelsea player won two French league titles, three Serie A championships, and two Champions League trophies.

His unglamorous yet key role was famously described as that of “a water carrier” by his former France team-mate Eric Cantona, who suggested his role was simple – win the ball then give it to more creative team-mates.

“Deschamps gets by because he gives 100%, but he’ll never be anything more than a water carrier,” Cantona said in an interview in 1996.

“You find players like him on every street corner.”

Deschamps could not resist a retort. “How many players can you find on street corners who have won two European Cups?” he replied.

But in the main he did his talking on the pitch.

A natural leader, he became the youngest captain to lift the Champions League with Marseille in 1993 then led his country to World Cup success five years later.

Former France defender Lilian Thuram, who was Deschamps’ team-mate in that 1998 win, told BBC Sport: “Deschamps, the captain, he was the one who led the way. He was a true leader of that team.

“Knowing him then, you can see how he became a manager and won the World Cup, because he had that drive within him.”

Management a natural next step

IMAGE SOURCE: GETTY IMAGES

Image caption: Didier Deschamps is now in his 12th year as France manager

When Deschamps retired from playing in 2001, moving into management seemed the sensible progression for someone praised throughout his career for his leadership skills.

He had spells in charge of Monaco, Juventus and Marseille before becoming France manager in 2012.

His arrival came two years after a catastrophic World Cup in 2010 for Les Bleus under Raymond Domenech.

The France squad was fractured, with players refusing to train in protest at the French Football Federation’s decision to send home striker Nicolas Anelka after he argued with Domenech.

Unity was something Deschamps emphasised above all else when he took charge and he soon fashioned a cohesive side that once again was a force at major tournaments.

They reached the quarter-finals of the 2014 World Cup, losing to eventual winners Germany, and made the final of Euro 2016, which they hosted, but were beaten 1-0 by Portugal.

The upward trend continued, though, as France triumphed at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

A crucial moment in that success came after they beat Argentina 4-3 in a thrilling last-16 match.

Afterwards, some of the players had gone out and were noisy on their return, waking up those sleeping when defender Adil Rami sprayed a fire extinguisher in the hotel corridor.

Philippe Tournon, France’s press officer at the time, told the BBC documentary ‘How To Win The World Cup’ that Deschamps’ response highlighted his man-management skills.

“My room was next to Didier’s and I thought he was ready to tear them apart,” he said.

“Didier had a word and, with his sixth sense of his relationship with the players and the unity of the group, told me ‘if I lay into them it might break something we’ve been building for five or six weeks’.”

Deschamps, of course, is not flawless and after they were knocked out of Euro 2020 in the last 16 by Switzerland he was criticised for getting his tactics and team selections wrong.

He responded to the critics and doubters by leading France to their second successive World Cup final in Qatar two years later, where they were beaten on penalties by Argentina after a thrilling 3-3 draw.

One last chance for European glory as a coach?

IMAGE SOURCE: GETTY IMAGES

Image caption: Deschamps won the European Championship as a player in 2000, which is the last time France won the tournament

During that World Cup run, Deschamps was again praised by those who played for him.

“Our coach believes in us being a group, being a team,” striker Antoine Griezmann said.

“We’re a group that lives well together. I see it in training, too. Everyone gives 100 per cent and we have the perfect set-up to take us as far as possible.”

The French Football Federation agreed, rewarded Deschamps with a new contract to keep him in charge of France until the 2026 World Cup.

France are among the favourites to triumph in Germany and lift their first European Championship in 24 years.

Should they succeed, the “water carrier” will have earned the right to be considered arguably the greatest international manager of all time.

Deschamps became France boss in 2012 and led the team to World Cup success in 2018. He has also contested the finals of Euro 2016 and the 2022 World Cup, losing to Portugal and Argentina respectively.

“The French Football Federation and Noël Le Graët, its president, are pleased to announce the extension of Didier Deschamps at the head of the French team until June 2026,” read a statement on the Federation Française de Football website.

“Appointed on July 9, 2012, by Noël Le Graët, Didier Deschamps has an exceptional record at the head of the national team with 89 wins, 28 draws and 22 losses in 139 matches, 279 goals scored and 119 conceded.

“Under his leadership, the French team notably won the 2018 World Cup, the 2021 Nations League, reached the final of Euro 2016 and that of the 2022 World Cup. It is currently in third place in the standings.

“Guy Stéphan, assistant to Didier Deschamps, Franck Raviot, goalkeeping coach, and Cyril Moine, physical trainer, will also continue their mission in the French team.”

Deschamps’ contract expired at the end of 2022, but he has now signed fresh terms to see him through to 2026.

Zinedine Zidane had been widely touted as the next France manager but the former Real Madrid boss will have to wait a further four years should he wish to fulfil that ambition.