Soccer:Didier Deschamps has been appointed France coach, the French football federation said in a statement on Sunday night.

France's 1998 World-Cup winning captain recently left Olympique Marseille and replaces Laurent Blanc, who quit following the national side's Euro 2012 quarter-final exit.

His first aim will be to qualify for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, with world and European champions Spain lurking in France's group.