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France Coach Didier Deschamps Says He’ll Leave after 2026 World Cup

France's coach Didier Deschamps celebrates as they do a lap of honor during a ceremony to celebrate the victory of the 2018 World Cup at the end of the UEFA Nations League football match between France and Netherlands at the Stade de France stadium, in Saint-Denis, northern of Paris, on September 9, 2018. (AFP)
France's coach Didier Deschamps celebrates as they do a lap of honor during a ceremony to celebrate the victory of the 2018 World Cup at the end of the UEFA Nations League football match between France and Netherlands at the Stade de France stadium, in Saint-Denis, northern of Paris, on September 9, 2018. (AFP)
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France Coach Didier Deschamps Says He’ll Leave after 2026 World Cup

France's coach Didier Deschamps celebrates as they do a lap of honor during a ceremony to celebrate the victory of the 2018 World Cup at the end of the UEFA Nations League football match between France and Netherlands at the Stade de France stadium, in Saint-Denis, northern of Paris, on September 9, 2018. (AFP)
France's coach Didier Deschamps celebrates as they do a lap of honor during a ceremony to celebrate the victory of the 2018 World Cup at the end of the UEFA Nations League football match between France and Netherlands at the Stade de France stadium, in Saint-Denis, northern of Paris, on September 9, 2018. (AFP)

Didier Deschamps announced Wednesday that he won’t continue as France coach after the next World Cup.

The 56-year-old Deschamps said in an interview with broadcaster TF1 that he will leave when his contract expires in the summer of 2026.

“I’ve been here since 2012, I’m scheduled to be here until 2026, the next World Cup, but that’s where it’s going to end because it has to end at some point,” Deschamps said in excerpts of the interview to be aired later Wednesday.

“I did my time, with the same desire and the same passion to keep the French team at the highest level, but 2026 is all very well.”

Deschamps started in his role as a successor to Laurent Blanc and led France to victory at the 2018 World Cup, also reaching the final in 2022 and at the 2016 European Championship.

At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, France reached the final and lost an epic title match to Argentina.

“I’m not here for the records,” Deschamps added. “The most important thing is that the France team remains at the top as it has been for many years.”

Europe will send 16 teams to the first 48-team World Cup, being co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico in the summer of 2026.

Deschamps did not elaborate on his future beyond the World Cup.

“There is a life afterwards,” he said. “I don’t know what it will be.”

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Mbappe 100 Percent, Bellingham Fit, Says Real Madrid’s Arbeloa

Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe (C) attends a training session of the team in Madrid, Spain, 21 March 2026. (EPA)
Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe (C) attends a training session of the team in Madrid, Spain, 21 March 2026. (EPA)
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Mbappe 100 Percent, Bellingham Fit, Says Real Madrid’s Arbeloa

Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe (C) attends a training session of the team in Madrid, Spain, 21 March 2026. (EPA)
Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe (C) attends a training session of the team in Madrid, Spain, 21 March 2026. (EPA)

Real Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa said Saturday he has "maximum confidence" in French superstar Kylian Mbappe ahead of the derby clash against Atletico Madrid.

Mbappe returned from a knee sprain as a substitute against Manchester City on Tuesday after missing five games and Arbeloa said he was excited to have the forward back at 100 percent, along with fit-again England international Jude Bellingham.

The duo will be in Madrid's squad for Sunday's La Liga game against Diego Simeone's Atletico at the Santiago Bernabeu.

"I already told you that the day (Mbappe) came back would be when he was at 100 percent," Arbeloa told reporters.

"I think that in the minutes we saw him in Manchester, with the two or three bursts of pace he made, every one of those actions showed he's in great shape and, above all, (it's about) his own feelings...

"We have maximum confidence, maximum security, maximum excitement to have a player like him back, so decisive and at 100 percent."

Mbappe is Madrid's top goalscorer this season with 38 goals in 34 games across all competitions.

Arbeloa said he was happy that the French national team have called up Mbappe for matches against Brazil and Colombia next week in the United States.

"I think it's fantastic. He's a player who's available to the coach, who has already played with us, who's definitely going to play tomorrow, so I don't see any problem with him going with his national team," added Arbeloa.

England coach Thomas Tuchel called up Bellingham for international duty even though the midfielder has not played since February 1 because of a hamstring injury.

"He's now available, he'll be in the squad tomorrow. We'll see if he plays. I think he will, he's available and I'm really looking forward to seeing him out on the pitch," said Arbeloa.

"From there it's normal that he can go with his national team.

"It's clear that Jude Bellingham is a very intelligent player, he knows especially well what he's doing at every moment and the situation he's in, but from my side I'm very happy that he'll be available tomorrow and ready to help us."

Madrid will be without goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who is set to miss several weeks with a thigh injury, but Arbeloa said he had faith in his replacement Andriy Lunin.

"The best goalkeeper in history gets injured, and we have another outstanding goalkeeper who will once again show how good he is," said Arbeloa, adding he has "utmost confidence" in the Ukrainian.

Sports

Dortmund Extend Injured Captain Can’s Contract

14 December 2025, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Freiburg im Breisgau: Borussia Dortmund's Emre Can thanks the fans after the German Bundesliga soccer match between SC Freiburg and Borussia Dortmund at Europa-Park Stadium. (dpa)
14 December 2025, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Freiburg im Breisgau: Borussia Dortmund's Emre Can thanks the fans after the German Bundesliga soccer match between SC Freiburg and Borussia Dortmund at Europa-Park Stadium. (dpa)
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Dortmund Extend Injured Captain Can’s Contract

14 December 2025, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Freiburg im Breisgau: Borussia Dortmund's Emre Can thanks the fans after the German Bundesliga soccer match between SC Freiburg and Borussia Dortmund at Europa-Park Stadium. (dpa)
14 December 2025, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Freiburg im Breisgau: Borussia Dortmund's Emre Can thanks the fans after the German Bundesliga soccer match between SC Freiburg and Borussia Dortmund at Europa-Park Stadium. (dpa)

Borussia Dortmund have made good on their promise to support captain Emre Can as he recovers from an ACL injury, extending his deal by one season until 2027 on Saturday.

Can suffered the season-ending knee injury in Dortmund's 3-2 home loss to Bayern Munich in February after slipping on advertising hoardings.

The 32-year-old was expected to move on in the summer, but Dortmund sporting director Lars Ricken said the club discussed an extension with Can once the diagnosis became clear.

Calling Can "an absolute role model and a leader," Ricken said in a statement: "We said immediately after his serious injury that we wanted to continue supporting him.

"Now Emre needs to focus entirely on his recovery, and then we'll be delighted when he returns to the pitch."

Can arrived at the club in 2020 from Juventus and is set to become Dortmund's longest-serving current player next season.

"My goal is to get healthy again as quickly as possible, to be back on the pitch with my teammates, and to be successful with the club," Can said.

Sports

Wimbledon to Introduce Video Review Technology

The Wimbledon logo on a water feature during the 2021 Wimbledon at the All England Tennis Club in Wimbledon, London, England, July 3, 2021. (AFP)
The Wimbledon logo on a water feature during the 2021 Wimbledon at the All England Tennis Club in Wimbledon, London, England, July 3, 2021. (AFP)
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Wimbledon to Introduce Video Review Technology

The Wimbledon logo on a water feature during the 2021 Wimbledon at the All England Tennis Club in Wimbledon, London, England, July 3, 2021. (AFP)
The Wimbledon logo on a water feature during the 2021 Wimbledon at the All England Tennis Club in Wimbledon, London, England, July 3, 2021. (AFP)

Wimbledon will introduce ‌video review technology this year that will allow players to challenge judgement calls made by the chair umpire, the Grand Slam's organizers said on Saturday.

Players will not be able to challenge the decisions of the electronic line calling (ELC) system that was introduced at Wimbledon last year, but video reviews ‌will be available ‌to check other scenarios, ‌like ⁠whether a ball ⁠has bounced twice or touched a player's racket or body.

"Players will be allowed to review specific judgement calls made by the chair umpire (such as, for example, ‘not-up’, ‘foul shot’, ‘touch’) either on a point-ending ⁠call, when a player immediately ‌stops play, or ‌immediately after the completion of a point (in the ‌case of hindrance)," the All England ‌Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club (AELTC) said in a statement.

"Players will not be limited in the number of reviews they can request."

The ‌video reviews will be introduced on six show courts, including the ⁠Centre ⁠Court and Court One.

"The technology will be available on Centre Court and Court One throughout the championships and on the other show courts until the conclusion of all singles matches on those courts," the AELTC added.

Visual indicators for the ELC will also be introduced, with scoreboards on all courts displaying "out" and "fault" calls.

This year's Wimbledon starts on June 29.