The squad and staff spent more than a month at their Boston base, which became the centre of France’s tournament routine from preparation through to the semi-final stage.
Their farewell photographs with hotel employees offered a quieter conclusion to that chapter. The timing also underlined the contrast surrounding the team: France have left the place that housed their World Cup campaign, but still have one meaningful responsibility ahead.
The departure is a clear dividing line between the tournament France hoped to finish and the one they now have to complete.
The third-place play-off carries a personal significance that extends beyond the result. Deschamps has led France for 14 years, making Saturday his final appearance in the national-team dugout.
That long tenure gives the fixture a ceremonial edge, but the semi-final defeat means France must also respond competitively. A victory would not replace the chance to contest the trophy, yet it would provide a stronger closing note for the manager and a more positive finish for the squad.
The challenge is emotional as well as tactical: recover from a 2-0 loss, reset quickly and play with enough focus to avoid allowing the campaign to fade out.
England now stand between France and a third-place finish. With both teams denied a place in the final, the match will test which side can manage disappointment more effectively.
For France, the result will shape the mood around Deschamps’ farewell. The next storyline will begin immediately afterwards, with the national team entering a new managerial era and facing questions about how the post-Deschamps transition should begin.