2026/07/15 11:13

Frustration loomed over the French press following the elimination of 'Les Bleus' from the World Cup 2026 semi-finals after a 2-0 loss to Spain, as leading media outlets in France agreed that the Spanish team was the better side, while the performance of coach Didier Deschamps' team faced harsh criticism. L'Équipe led the way with low ratings for several French players, stating that the team lacked attacking efficiency and failed to match Spain's pace, adding that France seemed far from the level they showed in previous rounds.

Le Monde, which had described France as the top favorite to win before the semi-finals, noted after the match that Spain succeeded in imposing their tactical identity, controlled the midfield, neutralized France's star threats, and deserved to reach the final. Meanwhile, Le Figaro focused on the future of the French team after the exit, suggesting that the defeat calls for a comprehensive review, especially with coach Didier Deschamps' era nearing its end, given the team's failure to reach the final for the third consecutive time.

In broadcast media, criticism was no less harsh, as RMC Sport described what happened as one of the worst performances by the French team in their World Cup history, and reported widespread reactions from the global press calling France 'the worst French team ever seen in a World Cup', stating that 'Les Bleus' suffered a 'football humiliation' against Spain after being unable to match the game's pace or mount any real response. The network's analysts also felt that Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, and Michael Olise failed to make a difference, stressing that the refereeing was not the cause of the loss, but rather Spain's clear technical and tactical superiority.

Despite the technical criticism, Salvadoran referee Iván Barton sparked some controversy in France, with Deschamps questioning his suitability to officiate a match of this magnitude, especially after awarding a penalty to Spain. However, he emphasized that his team was the inferior side and that the refereeing did not justify the defeat.

Most French analysts, including Bixente Lizarazu, Jérôme Rothen, and Daniel Riolo, agreed that Spain played a tactically complete match, controlled the midfield, managed to neutralize France's most dangerous weapons, and deserved the ticket to the final, while the French team seemed helpless in finding solutions to Spain's superiority.

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