France’s hopes of claiming a third World Cup title were brutally extinguished on Tuesday, as they suffered a humiliating 2-0 defeat to Spain in the semi-finals. The loss marked the end of the road for Didier Deschamps, who will step down as manager at the end of the tournament. However, it was the scathing criticism from captain Kylian Mbappe that has sent shockwaves through the French football community.
Mbappe, who has been managed by Deschamps throughout his international career, was scathing in his assessment of the team’s performance. “We were three against two in midfield, and against Spain, that’s hard,” he said. “Fabian (Ruiz) and Rodri had plenty of time to play. There was a lack of communication on the press. I think we should have done man-to-man press and force them to run with us.” Mbappe’s comments seemed to be aimed directly at his team-mates, rather than the tactics employed by Deschamps.
The heavy favourites had been expected to dominate the Spanish side, but instead they were outplayed and outmanoeuvred. Mbappe’s own performance was described as ‘pitiful’ by French newspaper L’Equipe, who gave him a rating of just 3/10. The Real Madrid star was quick to deflect blame, however, saying “At the end of the day, you take all the glory when you win, and when you don’t win, you have to – sorry – to take the s***.” His comments sparked a heated debate among French football fans, with many calling for Deschamps to be held accountable for the team’s failure.
Tuesday’s defeat marks Deschamps’ penultimate match in charge of the side, with the national team coach set to step down at the end of the tournament. He will oversee the dead rubber third place playoff against the loser of England vs Argentina in Miami on Saturday. The France legend is set to be replaced by his old national team-mate Zinedine Zidane, who has been waiting in the wings for the role. Zidane’s appointment is expected to be confirmed in the coming days, with the national team keen to firm up plans for his appointment in the wake of defeat in Dallas.
The loss has left a bitter taste in the mouths of French football fans, and has sparked a heated debate about the team’s future. With Deschamps set to leave and Zidane waiting in the wings, it remains to be seen what changes the French national team will undergo in the coming months. One thing is certain, however – the team will need to regroup and recharge in the wake of this crushing defeat.
