July 15, 2026 8:45 AM
We were second best, France coach concedes after chastening World Cup loss
The end of coach Didier Deschamps' Midas-like reign turned into a Tantalus torment as France suffered a comprehensive World Cup semi-final defeat by Spain, but Les Bleus' recent heartbreaks will not tarnish an unprecedented legacy. France lost the 2022 World Cup final to Argentina and have now fallen to Spain in three straight major semi-finals, at Euro 2024, the Nations League and Tuesday's 2-0 World Cup defeat. Yet Deschamps, who took charge in 2012 with French football still scarred by thei...