Didier Deschamps explained he always allows his players “the right to make mistakes”, ahead of France’s 2026 World Cup qualifier with Ukraine on Friday.

Les Bleus kick off their bid to make the 48-team tournament in Canada, Mexico and the United States next summer as they travel to Wroclaw, before hosting Iceland next Tuesday in Paris.

Starting their qualification campaign late due to their participation in the latter stages of the Nations League, France will be looking to improve on their recent record, having only won three of their last six.

Deschamps, who is due to stand down from the position after next year’s tournament, led the country to their second World Cup triumph in 2018, but has faced criticism after failing to win any of the three major international competitions since, despite reaching the 2022 World Cup final.