Didier Deschamps confirms quitting; Zidan expresses desire to fill the chief national coach’s post!
He has not been coaching a professional team for the last four years. Still, French media as well as British media have suddenly become curious and excited, reporting that Zinedine Zidane might be the man to fill Didier Deschamps’ place as the coach of the senior national team after the end of the 2026 World Cup. Deschamps has already confirmed that he would step down from the national coach’s post after the end of 2026 World Cup. Zinedine Zidane has made it clear he would “like to be the head coach of the France team one day, as he is now eying a comeback to the dugout with the Real Madrid job. The Frenchman is the only manager in history to win the Champions League thrice in succession, doing so with Real Madrid between 2016 and 2018, and later returned for a second stint. However, he has been out of work since 2021. The chief national coach’s post will be vacant after the end of the 2026 World Cup as Didier Deschamps has already confirmed that he will say goodbye to the job after 14 years, being one of the three men to have won the World Cup as a footballer and a manager. Speaking to Festival Dello Sport last week, where he was a guest, Zidane said, “I will definitely return.” Zidane added, “Looking forward to the future, I cannot say anything exactly now. But I want to be coach the national team in the future.” However, according to French media, another French World Cupper, Thierry Henry is also in contention for the chief national coach’s post after the World Cup ends. But Zidane’s chances of filling Deschamps’ post look bright at the moment.
Madrid’s calmness helps Mbappe to shine, says the star
Real Madrid’s star forward Kylian Mbappe admits that Madrid’s calmness is helping him to deliver his best on the pitch gradually. He has mentioned that the lifestyle in Madrid is less hectic than in Paris and also pointed out that staying in Madrid has made him more relaxed. The lifestyle in Madrid is inspiring him to recover mentally and physically as he looks to build on his scintillating start to the season. Ahead of Friday’s World Cup qualifiers against Azerbaijan, Mbappe has said, “No career is linear. There can be difficult years, when you have to endure a bit more hardship. But in life, I think I’ve adapted well to Madrid. It’s true that I’m a bit more relaxed. This isn’t an attack on France, but it’s true that I’m more relaxed in Madrid. The lifestyle is different; it’s less hectic than in Paris. I think that’s part of the evolution of a man and a player.” The 26-year-old France captain, now in his second season at Real and with 14 goals in 10 appearances across all competitions so far this term, added, “I have managed to get myself back on track, to get my head and my legs back in the right place. But it’s only the start of the season. It’s only October, there’s still a lot to play for, and there will be a lot to show.” This quote comes after Mbappe’s impressive debut campaign at Real Madrid, when he scored 44 goals in all competitions, although the team fell short of securing a major trophy. Mbappe joined Real on a free transfer in June 2024, leaving Paris Saint-Germain after a seven-year stay. In Paris, he established himself as their all-time leading scorer with 256 goals and lifted six Ligue 1 titles and four French Cups. France top Group D in their World Cup qualifiers, having earned six points from two matches. Mbappe has the chance to surpass Olivier Giroud as France’s all-time top scorer. Giroud, who ended his international career after the conclusion of the 2024 European Championship, holds the record with 57 goals, while Mbappe is just five goals shy of the mark.
Rapidly-growing Ultra-running waits for a ‘berth’ in Olympics; Indian team hope to win gold in the World Championship
Sudeep Pakrashi: Traditional Marathon race covering 42.195 kilometers is a popular sport. In contrast, ‘ultra-running’ is a rapidly growing discipline featuring races with longer distances: 50 kilometers, 100 kilometers, and 24-hour runs. Events take place on different terrains, including trails, mountains, 400m tracks, or roads, making each format unique. The game has a governing body named the International Association of Ultra-runners (IAU), which is affiliated with the International Athletics Federation (IAF). In India, the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) promotes the game. There are two major international events in this sport so far: the Asia-Oceania Continental Championship and the World Championship. Ahead of the forthcoming World Championship in 24-hour running to be held in Albi, France, on 18th and 19th October, the 12-member Indian team (six male and six female) have been undergoing an intense preparation under the tutelage of the country’s most experienced coach, Santhosh Padmanabhan, in Bangalore for around four to five months. While speaking over phone from Bangalore Padmanavan said, “We have worked hard this time. My aim is for the men’s team to break the world record of 319 kilometers in 24 hours, while for the women’s team, it is to break national record of 204 kilometers by Anju Saini in 24 hours. Santhosh added, “I am optimistic that our men’s team will be able to able to win a gold medal and I believe the women’s team will be finishing within the top five.” The best performance of India’s men’s team in a 24-hour world championship was 9th place in 2023 at Chinese Taipei. The women’s team were placed 15th in the same event in 2023. India’s men’s team also earned an inspiring 7th spot in the World Championship, but in the 100-kilometer-running last year in Bangalore. Padmanabhan sounded relying on Amar Devanda who had an individual gold medal in the 24-hour running in Asia-Oceania Continental championship in Canberra last year, covering 272.4 kilometers in 24 hours. Santhosh stated, “He had an incredible performance in the championship and as he is in form in the training Amar can also gift us a medal individually in the world championship also with another remarkable performance.” The coach also mentioned Ullas Hoshalli Narayana’s name, who earned a bronze in the 100-kilometer World Championship in Bangalore last year. The AFI-certified and USATF level-2 coach with an experience of 16 years has also an ammunition in his six-member female team. She is Sunita Subba, the ‘wonder girl’ from Darjeeling. Sunita has long been a pioneer in India’s ultra-endurance circuit. In 2022, she made headlines by winning the Hell Ultra — a brutal 122-kilometre run from Leh to Nubra Valley, crossing the formidable Khardung La Pass at 17,582 feet. Braving sub-zero temperatures, steep altitude, and oxygen-thin air, she became the first woman from the Darjeeling Hills to win this high-altitude ultra marathon — a feat that drew national acclaim and spotlighted the strength of women runners from the Eastern Himalayas. Padmanabhan said, “Leaving her family, especially the children, Sunita has been training for the last 41 days in Bangalore, staying as a PG. She has set an example of dedication, hard-work and sacrifice. “ India now host over 50 ultra-running events annually and has also hosted prestigious international Ultra running events such as the IAU 50Km and IAU 100km World Championships and multiple IAU 100km and IAU 24 hour Asia-Oceania Championships. Still, it has not been an Olympic sport. Santhosh, who is also a selection committee member, is waiting for the day when ultra-running will be an Olympic sport. “So far, I know, initiatives have been taken for ultra-running’s inclusion in the Olympics. It might be that the 100-kilometer ultra-running event can be included in the Olympics.” revealed Santhosh. The Indian team which will participate in the 24-hour world Championship have financial support from NEB sports pvt Ltd. and Enerjiva. Santhosh sounded confident, concluding, “Once the game becomes an Olympic sport, then the popularity will increase rapidly. Thirty-three countries are participating in the 24-hour world championship. It must increase and then we will also gain the attention of more media and obviously financial support.”
Michel Platini scares off a burglar, but 20 Trophies and medals stolen: Reports
Football legend Michel Platini encountered a burglar at his villa in the south of France on Friday, a source close to the police investigation informed AFP. Platini, 70, heard a noise in the garden of his property in Cassis early in the morning and came face to face with a masked man, who fled with several trophies and medals, according to the source. The thieves specifically targeted the garden pavilion, where most of the trophies were displayed. As per reports, approximately 20 of his trophies and medals from his illustrious career were taken. The Marseille prosecutor’s office confirmed the opening of an investigation into aggravated burglary at Michel Platini’s home to the French media group RTL. The local gendarmerie brigade is conducting the initial investigations. Platini played 72 times for France and won the Ballon d’Or award for the world’s top player three consecutive years from 1983 to 1985. He led France to the semi-finals of the World Cup in both 1982 and 1986. The former French captain, a star of Juventus and Saint Etienne, is regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time and was ranked seventh in the FIFA Player of the Century vote. In recognition of his accomplishments, he was named a Knight of the Legion of Honor in 1985 and promoted to Officer in 1998. Shortly after leaving the pitch for the final time, Platini turned to coaching, becoming the French national coach in 1988. In December 2015, Platini was banned from international football for eight years following a FIFA investigation that revealed he had accepted an improper payment from Sepp Blatter, the president of FIFA.
