Desire Doue arrives late for first day with France squad and Didier Deschamps' reaction speaks volumes

Desire Doue received a frosty welcome from Didier Deschamps after the Paris Saint-Germain forward turned up late for his first day with the France squad at Clairefontaine.

The 19-year-old received his first call-up to the national team last week, just days after scoring the winning penalty for PSG in their dramatic Champions League last-16 win over Liverpool.

Doue, who joined the Ligue 1 champions from Rennes last summer for a reported €50 million (£42.6m], has made 22 appearances so far this season for Les Parisiens, scoring four goals.

After such an impressive start to life under Luis Enrique, the skilful winger has been rewarded with a place in Didier Deschamps' 24-man squad for their Nations League double-header against Croatia.

Speaking about his decision to give Doue a call-up, Deschamps said: "He's done everything to do well with his club. He has progressed a lot, he is a young player but he's very interesting for us."

He added: "It's good he can be with us from what he's done over the last few months. Doue is adaptable and can play in many offensive positions."

On Monday morning, the France squad arrived at the National Center of Football in Clairefontaine, although Doue and his Paris Saint-Germain teammate Warren Zaire-Emery arrived late.

As a result, Didier Deschamps delivered a stern word to the pair. “You’re with Warren? That’s why you’re late?" he said, as translated by Get French Football News. "There are some managers where you’d leave straight away.”

Judging by his facial expressions, the no-nonsense Deschamps wasn't exactly impressed by their time-keeping skills as he pointed towards his watch.

Here's how fans on social media reacted to the scenes.

One said: "He probably won't get another call up till next year knowing Deschamps. Arrived late on his first ever call up."

A second wrote: "Cameras saved his ass," while another commented: "Doue couldn’t even look him in his eyes… Deschamps is a real disciplinarian."

A fourth simply added: "Discipline manager."

🥶 Désiré Doué arrives late alongside Warren Zaïre-Emery for his first day with the France squad.

“You’re with Warren? That’s why you’re late? […] there are some managers where you’d leave straight away.”pic.twitter.com/oePsjnHlgd

— Get French Football News (@GFFN) March 18, 2025

Earlier this year, Deschamps announced that he will stand down as France head coach after the 2026 World Cup.

Speaking to French broadcaster TF1, he said: “I’ve been here since 2012, I’m scheduled until 2026, the next World Cup. It will stop there because it has to stop there at some point. In my head, it’s very clear.”