Kylian Mbappe, Didier Deschamps and French media react after World Cup 2026 semi-final exit to Spain - 'Rude awakening'

Kylian Mbappe, who scored eight goals at the tournament before the Spain clash and looked the favourite to win another Golden Boot, questioned France's tactical approach.

La Roja appeared remarkably comfortable throughout, keeping France at arm's length after Mikel Oyarzabal's penalty, before Pedro Porro doubled their lead in the second half.

"We were three against two in midfield and against Spain, that's hard," Mbappe 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.

"We didn't play the game we wanted, technically, tactically. When you don't do what you have to do in a World Cup semi-final, you don't win.

"Spain respected their game plan and what the team usually does. They like to control the ball and the tempo.

"Our plan was to press them high so they could not install their rhythm, because they are better than us at controlling a game. We didn't manage to do it.

"We were too sloppy technically. We could not hurt them when we could have."

Manager Deschamps, whose 14-year tenure will end with Saturday's third-place play-off against the loser of England v Argentina, admitted France were "devastated" by their semi-final exit.

"Of course, there is a lot of disappointment," he said. "The players are devastated because we had a lot of ambition, even though we also have to be realistic and acknowledge that today we were a notch below on the technical level against a team that controlled the game well.

"But first of all, it's our fault. I don't want to blame anyone."

The French media were typically blunt in their assessment of the defeat, with Le Parisien labelling the outcome a "rude awakening" and claiming that France "never found the key to break down the Spanish Armada".

L'Equipe, meanwhile, went with the headline "fallen star", with an image of an exasperated Mbappe.

The newspaper wrote that France were "outclassed by Spain in every aspect, unable to live up to their dreams and the hopes they had inspired".

It added: "This adventure deserved better than such a shipwreck of play, strategy, and emotion, and much better than this semi-final played out with trembling at first, then with a defeat that left no room for complaint, and finally with the feeling of having barely played and of having betrayed the magic of an American summer.

"Spain maintained their ruthless, executioner-like demeanor to secure a second World Cup final, after their 2010 triumph, and while the abrasive and intelligent characteristics of a team that defended even better than it attacked on Tuesday night, cutting off every passing lane and every connection, were on full display, Les Bleus could at least have avoided helping them to such an extent."

L'Equipe's player ratings were also damning: France were given an overall rating of 3.7/10, while Lucas Digne, Ousmane Dembele and Michael Olise all got a 2/10.

Mbappe and Deschamps got off slightly lighter with a 3/10.

Elsewhere, a headline on RMC read: "0 goals in 3 semi-finals, Mbappe's losing streak continues in the World Cup".

The report read: "Kylian Mbappe was unable to deliver for his team and the nation just one match away from the final. While the French captain had single-handedly carried his squad throughout the tournament with his leadership and eight goals, he couldn't replicate that performance against La Roja."

Newspaper Corse Martin kept it simple, running with the word "disappointment" as their headline, while Le Figaro said Spain "taught France a lesson".

France will now look to the future under Deschamps' successor, as they build towards Euro 2028 after two straight semi-final losses to Spain in major tournaments.

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