Kylian Mbappe has made clear his frustration after France’s World Cup dream collapsed in a flat and painful semi-final defeat to Spain, with the captain appearing to question both the tactical set-up and the execution of the plan on the pitch.
France arrived in Dallas as one of the favourites to win the tournament. With Mbappe leading the line, Michael Olise and Ousmane Dembele offering flair, and a squad packed with elite talent, many expected Didier Deschamps’ side to impose themselves. Instead, Spain controlled the contest, won 2-0, and reached Sunday’s final with a performance built on organisation, patience and midfield dominance.
Kylian Mbappe appeared to criticise the way that head coach Didier Deschamps set up the national team against Spain after the final whistle
The heavy favourites were knocked out of the World Cup semi-finals 2-0 in Dallas on Tuesday
French newspaper L’Equipe issued brutal ratings following France’s World Cup exit
For Mbappe, the frustration was not only about the result. Speaking after the defeat, he pointed to a tactical problem in midfield, suggesting France had allowed Spain too much room to dictate the rhythm of the game. He noted that Fabian Ruiz and Rodri had time to play, while France struggled to press with the clarity and aggression required against a side so comfortable in possession.
The Real Madrid forward said France had lacked communication in the press and felt they should have gone man-to-man to force Spain into uncomfortable areas. His comments were striking because they appeared to place part of the blame on the way France approached the match, even though he also accepted responsibility as captain and one of the team’s biggest stars.
Mbappe admitted France did not deliver technically or tactically. He said the team failed to carry out what was required in a World Cup semi-final and praised Spain for respecting their own game plan. In his view, France wanted to press high and prevent Spain from establishing control, but they were unable to do so. Once Spain settled, France found themselves chasing shadows.
That assessment matched what unfolded on the pitch. Spain were sharper in possession, more compact without the ball, and far more convincing in the key midfield zones. Rodri and Fabian repeatedly found space, France’s attackers were starved of useful service, and Mbappe was left with too few moments to turn the tie in his team’s favour.
It was a bitter night for the French captain, who had been expected to be one of the defining players of the tournament. French newspaper L’Equipe gave him a harsh 3 out of 10 rating, a reflection of how little influence he had on a night when France needed inspiration. Yet Mbappe insisted the disappointment had to be shared, saying that when players take the glory in victory, they must also take the criticism when they fall short.
The defeat also sharpens the sense that a major chapter in French football is ending. Deschamps is due to step down after the tournament, with the third-place play-off now set to be his penultimate act before the national team moves into a new era. His long spell in charge has delivered huge success, including the 2018 World Cup and multiple deep tournament runs, but this semi-final exit felt like a tired ending rather than a glorious farewell.
Mbappe is believed to have a positive relationship with the France manager-in-waiting Zinedine Zidane
Tuesday’s exit marks Deschamps’ penultimate match in charge of the side, with the national team coach stepping down at the tournament’s end. The manager will oversee the dead rubber third place playoff against the loser of England vs Argentina in Miami on Saturday.
Zinedine Zidane is widely expected to be the leading candidate to replace Deschamps, and the timing now feels almost unavoidable. The former France great has been away from management since leaving Real Madrid in 2021, but his name has never drifted far from the national team conversation. Reports have suggested that plans for his arrival could accelerate after the defeat in Dallas.
A Zidane appointment would instantly change the mood around Les Bleus. He is a national icon, a World Cup winner, and a coach with Champions League pedigree. Just as importantly, he is believed to have a strong relationship with Mbappe. That connection could prove vital as France look to rebuild around their captain while refreshing the tactical identity of a side that looked second best when it mattered most.
There may also be changes around Zidane if he takes the role, with former France goalkeeper Fabien Barthez reportedly among the names linked with a place in the set-up. For a squad still full of talent, the task will not be about starting from nothing. It will be about restoring clarity, energy and belief after a defeat that exposed the limits of the current structure.
France will still have one more match under Deschamps, but the bigger story has already moved beyond the third-place play-off. Mbappe’s words have captured the frustration of a team that expected more, delivered too little, and now appears ready for a reset. Spain march on to the final. France, meanwhile, are left to ask whether Zidane is the man to turn disappointment into a new beginning.
