Deschamps and Zidane absent from Robert Pirès' jubilee at Metz

Didier Deschamps will not set foot on the pitch at Stade Saint-Symphorien next Tuesday. The former France manager, who left his post after the third-place playoff defeat to England (4-6) at the 2026 World Cup on July 18, is absent from the official lineup announced by FC Metz for Robert Pirès’ jubilee.

Zinédine Zidane, his successor as France manager, is also not among the announced participants. The new manager is wrapping up his first gathering, which includes four matches including France-Belgium at Saint-Denis on the Monday preceding the event.

Since the end of the World Cup, Deschamps has been enjoying his vacation. His only notable public appearance was a Céline Dion concert at the Plenitude Arena in Nanterre.

The Metz jubilee lineup remains exceptional nonetheless. Robert Pirès, with 79 caps and 14 goals for France, 1998 World Cup champion and 2000 European champion, has brought together three teams: his Pirès All-Stars, Arsenal’s Gunners, and FC Metz legends. Among the former French teammates present are Laurent Blanc, Marcel Desailly, Thierry Henry, Bixente Lizarazu, Lilian Thuram, Patrick Vieira, Youri Djorkaeff, Emmanuel Petit, Frank Leboeuf, Vincent Candela, Lionel Charbonnier, Bernard Diomède, Christian Karembeu and Sylvain Wiltord.

Other French internationals complete the lineup: Éric Abidal, Franck Ribéry, Samir Nasri, Samuel Umtiti, William Gallas, Laurent Koscielny, Bacary Sagna, Éric Carrière and Abou Diaby. The African side of the evening promises to be equally impressive, with the presence of Didier Drogba, Samuel Eto’o, El-Hadji Diouf, Emmanuel Adebayor, Rigobert Song and Jacques Songo’o.