Zidane on stand-by

After apparently turning down the chance to coach PSG, Zinedine Zidane has his sights set on taking over as coach with the French national side in 2023. Current coach, Didier Deschamps (whose contract expired yesterday upon the conclusion of the last game at the 2022 World Cup) refused to offer any insight as to what his immediate plans involve and is set to meet with with Noël Le Graet, president of the French Football Federation in early January to discuss a possible renewal.

Deschamps did allude to continuing in the position after reaching the semifinals of the World Cup but the cruel manner of the defeat against Argentina in the final may have gone some way in changing his mindset

On Monday morning L’Équpe reported that Deschamps’s intentions are to continue but that he would put pressure for the term to be extended until the 2026 World Cup and not only until the 2024 European Championships as the Federation had been considering in recent days.

His agent, Jean-Pierre Bernès, acknowledged on RMC Sport that his client is a sought after talent and as things stand Zidane has to sit and wait patiently pending the outcome of the meeting between the 54-year-old and the FFF (French FA).

Deschamps won the World Cup with France in 2108 and also secured the 2021 Nations League with Les Bleus and was within touching distance of enhancing his legacy in Qatar but had to watch in disappointment as his French side fell on a penalty shoot-out to Leo Messi and Argentina in a dramatic final game.