France captain Kylian Mbappe has openly confessed that his team was lacking in all areas in its 2-0 defeat to Spain in the semi-final of the FIFA World Cup 2026, conceding that Les Bleus were not good enough to overcome the Spanish side in the final.
Mbappe’s post-match remarks admitted that France’s man-to-man scheme, which they had planned to use in their midfield, had gone wrong “tactically and technically” against the European champions.
“I don’t feel like we were at our best match, I think we played it the same, game, tactical, technical or whatever… mind you. When you don’t do what you’re supposed to do in a World Cup semi-final, you don’t win,” Mbappe said.
The French were trying to pile on Spain at the top of the field and not let them get in possession, the skipper has said. Send the Spanish midfielders and that all changed.
He also pointed out the fact that “our moves and touches were not that of a World Cup semi-final against Spain.”
Mbappe accepted that he had lost the whole tournament but said it was a shock for him to see their mistake, but they should face it down.
He explained that with a win, it has to be with the head held high, and with a loss, it has to be with a head held high as well. Now there is a lot of disappointment; it’s hard to tell how much of that disappoints the squad and how much of that disappoints me.
With the start of the new club season around the corner, Mbappe will have to wait a little longer before joining Real Madrid.