'Proud' Deschamps' France contract extended to 2022 World Cup

• I'm very happy, very proud to continue the adventure (until the 2022 World Cup), even if our next goal is Euro 2020," said Deschamps.
• The Ukrainian football federation then announced a "preliminary agreement" for a friendly on March 27.

PARIS: Didier Deschamps' contract as coach of world champions France has been extended through to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the French football federation announced on Tuesday.

Deschamps, a former France skipper who led the team to 1998 World Cup glory, has been at the coaching helm of Les Bleus since summer 2012.

"I'm very happy, very proud to continue the adventure (until the 2022 World Cup), even if our next goal is Euro 2020," said Deschamps.

Federation president Noel Le Graet had previously said a contract extension for the 51-year-old was dependent on France qualifying for the 2020 European championships.

Deschamps duly guided France into the competition, where they have been drawn alongside 2014 world champions Germany, reigning European champions Portugal and one more team still to qualify through the play-offs.

Ahead of next summer's finals Le Graet told AFP on Tuesday France will face Ukraine and Finland at home in March, adding discussions were ongoing to find opponents for June 1 and 8.

The Ukrainian football federation then announced a "preliminary agreement" for a friendly on March 27.

Deschamps will shortly become the longest-serving France coach, overtaking the eight years and six months of service by Michel Hidalgo between January 1976-June 1984.

Deschamps has won 65 out of 100 matches since replacing Laurent Blanc as national team boss following Euro 2012.