Spain defeated France 2-0 in the 2026 FIFA World Cup semi-final on Tuesday, with Mikel Oyarzabal converting a penalty and Pedro Porro adding a second goal to send La Roja to their first final since 2010. France captain Kylian Mbappe publicly criticized coach Didier Deschamps' tactical approach after Spain dominated Les Bleus in midfield.
Mbappe Questions France's Tactical Setup
Mbappe did not hold back in his assessment of how his side approached the match, placing the blame squarely on their tactical setup rather than individual errors. “We were three against two in midfield, and against Spain, that's hard. Fabian and Rodri had plenty of time to play. There was a lack of communication in the press. I think we should have done man-to-man press and forced them to run with us,” he said via ESPN.
The French captain pointed to a midfield imbalance as the root cause of France's downfall, arguing that Spain's playmakers were given far too much freedom throughout the game. Spain's midfield duo of Fabian Ruiz and Rodri controlled the tempo, leaving France chasing shadows.
End of an Era for French Football
According to BBC Sport, the defeat will effectively mark the end of an era for French football. Deschamps is expected to step down following France's third-place match on Saturday, concluding a tenure that began in 2012 and delivered the 2018 World Cup title. World Cup-winning icon Zinedine Zidane is widely anticipated to succeed Deschamps as the next France head coach, a transition that has been discussed within French football circles for several years.
Spain will now await the winner of the second semi-final between Argentina and England, as they bid to win their first World Cup since 2010.
Ballon d'Or Implications
The defeat also had repercussions for the Ballon d'Or race. French trio Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, and Michael Olise saw their chances of winning the prestigious award diminish after the loss, as Spain's stars boosted their credentials with a dominant performance.
