France manager Didier Deschamps has rejected a request from his players for a night out ahead of their 2026 World Cup third-place playoff against England this Saturday.
According to reports from L’Équipe, the squad had requested a free evening to clear their heads following a painful 2-0 defeat to Spain in the semi-finals earlier in the week. However, Deschamps firmly denied the request, determined to keep his team focused as he is eager to avoid ending their tournament campaign with back-to-back defeats.
Strict focus maintained after relocation to Miami
The French squad traveled from their World Cup training base in Boston to Miami on Thursday morning to begin final preparations for the weekend clash. Despite the change of scenery, Deschamps is keeping the team under tight lockdown to ensure maximum preparation for their final match of the tournament.
The strict approach highlights how seriously management is taking the third-place fixture against their historic rivals. England is also looking to bounce back from their own semi-final heartbreak, having suffered a late 2-1 defeat against Argentina on Wednesday night. Both European giants will meet this Saturday in Miami, each desperate to finish their tournament run on a winning note.
