French Media Critiques Performance
Following their elimination from the World Cup semi-finals by Spain, the France national team has faced significant criticism from the French media. Despite being considered among the favourites for a third title, Les Bleus were unable to overcome an organised Spanish side. Mikel Oyarzabal scored from a penalty, and Pedro Porro added another goal, while France’s attack was contained.
The national press expressed strong disapproval of France’s performance. L’Equipe featured a picture of Kylian Mbappe looking dejected on its front page with the headline “Fleeting star.” Similarly, Le Parisien used an image of Mbappe alongside the headline “Fallen from a height,” noting that Les Bleus “never found the key to unlocking the Spanish powerhouse” after trailing from half-time.
Le Figaro stated, “Spain put an end to Les Bleus’ dream,” also with an image of Mbappe. Ouest France referred to the outcome as “the end of the American Dream,” depicting the striker covering his face in disappointment.
Player Ratings and Disappointment
Several players received particularly harsh assessments from the French press. Three players were given a rating of two out of 10 by L’Equipe. These included Michael Olise, Lucas Digne, and Ousmane Dembele.
Digne was criticised for conceding a penalty after an uncontrolled header and a foul on Lamine Yamal, with the publication stating he made “two mistakes that resulted in a penalty.” Dembele was described as “a huge disappointment,” with L’Equipe noting that he “did almost everything wrong” and “gradually faded until he became almost invisible.”
Olise, despite having performed well in previous matches, was not spared, with L’Equipe commenting that he “fell very low this time.” Captain and star striker Mbappe received a rating of three, accompanied by the observation that he “often seemed very isolated and tried to do everything himself, without success.”
Mbappe Reflects on Performance
Mbappe himself acknowledged the team’s shortcomings, stating after the match, “There were too many technical errors. We didn’t know how to hurt them when we needed to. It was up to us to shift the balance of power, and that’s where we failed.” He expressed frustration with France’s overall performance, mentioning tactical, technical, and general performance levels.
Speaking to French broadcaster M6, Mbappe explained, “And when you don’t do what you’re supposed to do in a World Cup semifinal, you don’t win.” He noted that their objective was to press Spain high to prevent them from establishing a controlled rhythm, an effort in which they failed. Mbappe also highlighted issues in midfield, where France’s Adrien Rabiot and Aurelien Tchouameni were often outnumbered by Spain’s Rodri, Dani Olmo, and Fabian Ruiz. He stated, “We kept finding ourselves outnumbered 3-on-2 in midfield. And against Spain, that’s a real problem.”
Mbappe described the team’s current feeling as “immense disappointment” and found it difficult to articulate the extent of the squad’s frustration. He emphasised the dream of reaching the final and giving their country a chance to continue dreaming and make history. Despite the setback, Mbappe conveyed the squad’s determination to learn from the loss and move forward, acknowledging that “football waits for no one.”
Luis de la Fuente’s European champions, Spain, are set to face either England or Argentina in the final on Sunday.
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Source: independent.co.uk
As News-UK's Sports News Writer, Oscar Pennington reports on rugby union, golf and boxing for readers across the country. He built a reputation for sharp explainer pieces on regional sport. He holds a degree in Journalism from Nottingham Trent University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Oscar lives in Nottingham, where he follows the pro golf tour and amateur boxing. “Context is what turns a result into a story.”
