French media reacts to World Cup semi-final loss against Spain

Following France's 2-0 defeat to Spain in the World Cup semi-finals, the French press offered a candid evaluation of the national team's performance. The loss, which saw Mikel Oyarzabal score from the penalty spot and Pedro Porro add a second goal, highlighted France's inability to meet their usual high standards. The much-praised attacking quartet struggled to make an impact against the European champions in Dallas.

L'Equipe's coverage featured a striking image of Kylian Mbappe, accompanied by the headline 'fallen star', indicating the team was 'powerless' against Spain. The publication's player ratings were harsh, with no player receiving a score above 5/10. Lucas Digne's performance earned him a lowly 2/10 for conceding the penalty, while Ousmane Dembele and Michael Olise were also rated poorly for their lack of effectiveness in attack.

Other French outlets echoed this sentiment. Le Parisien described the match as a 'rude awakening', stating that the team failed to unlock the Spanish defence. Corse Martin used the word for 'disappointment' on their front page, emphasising that Didier Deschamps' side was 'outclassed'. Le Figaro remarked that Spain had 'taught France a lesson', while Ouest France lamented the 'end of the American dream'.

In the aftermath, midfielder Rayan Cherki expressed his disappointment, stating that the team lost to themselves rather than to Spain or the referee. Head coach Didier Deschamps acknowledged the strength of the Spanish team, admitting that his squad fell short of their usual performance levels. He noted that injuries and suspensions impacted the team's ability to compete effectively, leading to a sense of disappointment following the match.

via Sky Sports