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Deschamps to Stay on as France Coach after Semifinal Exit at Euro 2024

France's head coach Didier Deschamps boards the bus to leave the stadium after the UEFA Euro 2024 semi-final football match between Spain and France at the Munich Football Arena in Munich on July 9, 2024. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)
France's head coach Didier Deschamps boards the bus to leave the stadium after the UEFA Euro 2024 semi-final football match between Spain and France at the Munich Football Arena in Munich on July 9, 2024. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)
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Deschamps to Stay on as France Coach after Semifinal Exit at Euro 2024

France's head coach Didier Deschamps boards the bus to leave the stadium after the UEFA Euro 2024 semi-final football match between Spain and France at the Munich Football Arena in Munich on July 9, 2024. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)
France's head coach Didier Deschamps boards the bus to leave the stadium after the UEFA Euro 2024 semi-final football match between Spain and France at the Munich Football Arena in Munich on July 9, 2024. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)

Didier Deschamps is staying on as France coach after being praised by the head of the country's soccer federation for leading the team “in the best possible way” at the European Championship.
France lost 2-1 to Spain in the semifinals on Tuesday, ending an underwhelming tournament for Kylian Mbappé and his teammates.
However, in an interview with French daily L'Equipe on Wednesday, Philippe Diallo said Deschamps fulfilled the objectives set before the tournament — reaching the semifinals — and will carry on as coach.
Deschamps, who took the job after Euro 2012, has a deal through 2026, The Associated Press reported.
“I don’t see any reason to question his contract," Diallo said. "The results of the past speak in his favor and the objectives have been achieved. Didier will continue his mission.”
“The balance is generally positive insofar as the objective set for the semifinal has been achieved."
France was widely criticized for its pragmatic style of play at Euro 2024, with Randal Kolo Muani's header against Spain the team's first and only goal from open play by a France player all tournament.
Under Deschamps, France has won the World Cup in 2018, reached the final of that tournament in 2022 and also lost in the European Championship final in 2016.

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For Olympic Athletes Soaked by Rain at the Opening Ceremony, Getting Sick Isn’t a Concern

United States' Coco Gauff and Lebron James travel along the Seine River in Paris, France, during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 26, 2024. (AP)
United States' Coco Gauff and Lebron James travel along the Seine River in Paris, France, during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 26, 2024. (AP)
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For Olympic Athletes Soaked by Rain at the Opening Ceremony, Getting Sick Isn’t a Concern

United States' Coco Gauff and Lebron James travel along the Seine River in Paris, France, during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 26, 2024. (AP)
United States' Coco Gauff and Lebron James travel along the Seine River in Paris, France, during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 26, 2024. (AP)

The Olympians were wet for hours. For some, it didn't matter. Others had to navigate the unexpected conditions and make the most of it.

Athletes from around the world paraded on boats in rain-soaked uniforms for Friday's soggy opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics. The four-hour event on the Seine River went on despite rain throughout the evening, ranging from light showers to intense downpours.

It made for less than ideal conditions for athletes preparing to begin intense competition across Paris. A few events, including soccer and rugby sevens, began days before the opening ceremony, but much of the action got underway Saturday. Skateboarding, originally set to open Saturday, was postponed because of the rain.

Technically, standing in the rain and cold alone isn't what makes people sick. Being in those conditions for long periods of time can affect the immune system, though. Which is why Austrian marathon swimmer Jan Hercog said Friday he was taking vitamin C and other supplements to get through the ceremony.

Athletes from some countries had no concerns at all. They grabbed umbrellas and ponchos, and their show went on.

“I waited until a little bit into the rain (before putting on the poncho), so I was pretty wet when I put it on, but that’s OK,” Spain women's basketball player Megan Gustafson said. “It was still fun.”

At the end of practice Saturday in Villneuve-d’Ascq, where the Olympics are playing the group stage for basketball, Gustafson said the rain was not an issue during the ceremony even if the ponchos messed with staying fashionable.

Gustafson, 27, also wasn’t worried about catching a cold on the verge of her Olympic debut. Spain, which finished sixth in Tokyo after winning silver at the 2016 Rio Games, opens group play for the women Sunday against China at Pierre Mauroy Stadium.

“The weather was relatively warm and the rain wasn’t super cold or anything, so I felt comfortable,” Gustafson said. “I don’t think any of my teammates are sick, so we’re all right.”

The United States women's basketball team left the ceremony early and got on their buses from Paris back to Lille.

“It was raining. I don’t know if you guys saw,” WNBA star A'ja Wilson deadpanned. “A little weather issue. I wasn’t really into everything as much as I wanted to be.”

Maksym Cheberiaka, spokesperson for Ukraine’s Olympic Committee, said that Ukrainian athletes didn’t have any health concerns because of the rain. Those who had competitions scheduled for Saturday either didn’t participate or left the ceremony early.

US flag bearers LeBron James and Coco Gauff wore the clear plastic ponchos to protect their matching white jackets. They were smiling and laughing, but they were drenched.

“A phenomenal experience, obviously, to be there with my fellow Olympians,” James said. “I was representing the red, white and blue, I was representing our country. It’s very humbling and an honor to be part of that group, all the athletes from all the different states and cities all around America. And just being on one boat and representing us for the start of the games, it was a true honor.”

Fellow basketball Olympian Kevin Durant, who could join James in the team's Olympic opener Sunday, posted a photo of himself in the US outfit for the opening — navy blazer, button-down shirt, denim jeans — on Instagram with the caption “Whole outfit soaked but we here.”

“We were soaking,” James said. “If you saw KD’s post, he was not telling any fibs. We were pretty drenched when we got back to the hotel.”

US men’s coach Steve Kerr wasn’t at the opening ceremony. That means he stayed dry.

“I was watching on TV seeing all the rain,” Kerr said. “This isn’t ideal, but I think it’ll be an experience and a memory that these guys will have for life that will far exceed the inconvenience of the rain.”