Hailed as the most spectacular attacking force to dazzle the competition since Brazil’s legendary 1982 team, France entered the World Cup semi-finals.
However, Kylian Mbappe and company learned the hard way that brilliant football does not ensure survival, just like Zico, Eder, Falcao, and Socrates did before them.
In a heartbreaking 0-2 loss that will probably damage coach Didier Deschamps’ reputation, a previously brilliant French campaign full of offensive fireworks fizzled out like a dud Bastille Day firecracker.
Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, Michael Olise, Bradley Barcola, and Desire Doue had all contributed to France scoring 16 goals in six games to advance to Tuesday’s semifinal.
However, it took France’s renowned attacking arsenal more than 75 minutes to even register a shot on goal during a thorough Spanish masterclass at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
As the players of Les Bleus struggled to understand that an armory is only as strong as its ammo, Spain was already in control and leading 2-0.
France was left firing blanks as Spain’s gifted triad of Rodri, Dani Olmo, and Fabian Ruiz cut off the supply lines from midfield.
“We kept finding ourselves outnumbered 3-on-2 in midfield. And against Spain, that’s a real problem…When you put it all together, the result is a defeat. It’s a huge disappointment,” AFP quoted Mbappe as saying.
“I don’t think we played the match we wanted to play — whether tactically, technically, or in terms of our overall performance level. And when you don’t do what you’re supposed to do in a World Cup semi-final, you don’t win,” Mbappe added.
In the meantime, Deschamps will step down as manager of France in light of the extremely disappointing conclusion to a campaign that, during the previous five weeks, had seemed certain to culminate in ultimate success. Many will also question how Deschamps was unable to devise a tactical strategy to counter Spain’s well-known passing system.
After masterminding one World Cup victory in 2018 and defeating France in a penalty shootout in another in 2022, a victorious send-off in New Jersey seemed inevitable.
“It is not really important on a personal level whether I leave this competition in the semi-final or final,” Deschamps insisted.
“It’s not time to talk about the future. And I am extremely happy. I am very proud of everything we’ve done with the national team. I have been lucky as a player to enjoy a big moment. Today is not such a moment but I think we must accept it without forgetting everything that we’ve experienced so far.”
Mbappe, meanwhile, was forced to consider a campaign that had been cut short. If the team had won on Tuesday, the 27-year-old would have been the second player in history to appear in three World Cup finals, behind Brazil’s Cafu in 1994, 1998, and 2002.
Rather, the Real Madrid player will go with France to Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium on Saturday to participate in the dreaded bronze medal match.
However, Mbappe sounded a defiant note as France left the competition, stating that a team full of talent would be able to rise again with the 2028 European Championships approaching.
“It was a dream for us to reach the final, to give our country the chance to keep dreaming and to make history,” he said.
“Now, it is something we have to face with our heads held high. I believe that when you win, you win with your head held high; so when you lose, you have to lose with your head held high, too.
“But right now, there is immense disappointment. I find it hard to put into words just how disappointed the squad and I are. Yet even if it might seem a bit robotic at times, we have to pick ourselves up, go on vacation, and move on to the next chapter. Because football waits for no one. We have to start over, put this failure behind us, and learn from it.”
