Didier Deschamps is coaching his final match on the France bench this Saturday night against England, and Kylian Mbappé just dropped a message that hits right in the feels. It's the World Cup third-place match, but for France, it's bigger than that. This is Deschamps' last game before Zinédine Zidane steps in, and Mbappé made sure the world knows what his coach means to him.
The Last Dance and a Missed Ending
Hours before kickoff, Mbappé posted a moving tribute on X, calling today "your last dance." He didn't pull any punches either, directly saying, "We should have given you a better ending, but we failed." Man, that's some brutal honesty from your star player. Deschamps has given so much to the team over 14 years, being a "key figure in the rebuilding of this team," as Mbappé put it. It sounds like he's been the backbone for a long, long time, and the team knows it, even if they couldn't send him off with a championship."People Have Not Always Appreciated Your Greatness"
Mbappé also highlighted that Deschamps' "greatness" hasn't always been appreciated, but "time and history will take care of that." You gotta respect a player who stands up for his coach like that. Mbappé then thanked Deschamps for the chance to represent his country "on the biggest stage for so many years," calling it a privilege to be alongside "one of the greatest legends of our country." He's only got "wonderful memories" of their time together. It’s a powerful statement of respect, showing the deep bond between the coach and his number 10. We saw a glimpse of that connection after Mbappé's goal against Sweden in the round of 16, when he gave Deschamps a "magnificent hug." It’s going to be a wild Saturday night watching France take on England, not just for the third-place trophy, but knowing it's the end of an era. With Deschamps making way for Zidane, it's a huge moment for French football, and Mbappé's message just underscored how much this leadership transition means to the players. What a game to look forward to, even if the stakes feel different now.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.