16 July,2026 08:56 AM IST | Mumbai | AFP
A dejected Kylian Mbappe (right) leads his team off the field after France’s defeat on Tuesday. Pic/AFP
Captain Kylian Mbappe rued the end of France's World Cup dream on Tuesday, blaming tactical and technical blunders for his side's 0-2 semi-final defeat to Spain.
The 27-year-old French captain's dreams of a third straight World Cup final appearance ended abruptly as Spain outplayed Les Bleus here.
Mbappe told French broadcaster M6 that the loss had been a "huge disappointment" for the French squad.
"I don't think we played the match we wanted to play - whether tactically, technically, or in terms of our overall performance level," Mbappe said.
"And when you don't do what you're supposed to do in a World Cup semi-final, you don't win," the Real Madrid star added.
Mbappe pinpointed the crux of the problem in midfield, where France's duo of Adrien Rabiot and Aurelien Tchouameni rapidly found themselves over-run by Spain's triumvirate of Rodri, Dani Olmo and Fabian Ruiz.
"We kept finding ourselves outnumbered 3-on-2 in midfield," Mbappe said. "And against Spain, that's a real problem. When you put it all together, the result is a defeat. It's a huge disappointment."
Mbappe said France's crestfallen squad were determined to bounce back after digesting the lessons of the loss.
"It was a dream for us to reach the final," he said. "But right now, there is immense disappointment. I find it hard to put into words just how disappointed the squad and I are," he added.
Two
France's losing margin on Tuesday - their biggest defeat at a FIFA World Cup match since 0-2 loss to Mexico in 2010
One
No. of FIFA World Cup regulation-time losses for Kylian Mbappe in matches he has started; Tuesday's 0-2 defeat to Spain is his first
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