Following their unexpected World Cup semi-final defeat to Spain, several French national team players have faced severe criticism from French sports daily L’Equipe. The publication delivered a harsh assessment of the team’s performance, awarding exceptionally low ratings to key players after their 2-0 loss ended their hopes of reaching a third consecutive World Cup final.
L’Equipe’s Damning Verdict on France’s World Cup Exit
France, who entered the tournament as favorites and had showcased impressive attacking prowess throughout, were ultimately undone by a Mikel Oyarzabal penalty and a late strike from Pedro Porro. Spain managed to neutralize France’s potent offense, which had scored 16 goals prior to the semi-final, in a match played in Dallas. L’Equipe’s post-match analysis reflected the disappointment, with many of France’s star players receiving notably low marks.
Lowest Scores for Key French Players
Among the most heavily criticized was Aston Villa defender Lucas Digne, who was handed a 2/10 rating. L’Equipe pinpointed his clumsy challenge on Spain’s Lamine Yamal inside the penalty area as the pivotal moment that led to the opening goal. The newspaper detailed how Digne, unaware of Yamal’s presence, committed the foul while attempting to clear the ball. Although he seemed to recover his composure in the first half, his second-half performance was marred by frequent turnovers and ultimately led to his substitution.
Ousmane Dembele, the reigning Ballon d’Or winner, also received a 2/10 score. L’Equipe described his performance as one where he “did almost everything wrong.” His contributions were characterized by a lack of precision, including an uncontrolled header and a foul on Yamal that contributed to the penalty. The publication noted that Dembele gradually faded from the match, becoming “almost invisible” and representing a “huge disappointment” given his stature.
Michael Olise, who had impressed in earlier matches, was also given a 2/10 rating. L’Equipe stated that after “rising so high in previous matches, he fell very low this time.” His display was marked by a lack of precision in his passing and dribbling, preventing him from posing a significant threat to the Spanish defense.
Mbappe and Deschamps Also Face Scrutiny
Captain Kylian Mbappe, one of France’s most prominent stars, was rated 3/10. L’Equipe observed that he “often seemed very isolated” and “tried to do everything himself, without success.” His inability to influence the game significantly in the crucial semi-final was a key point of criticism.
Manager Didier Deschamps also received a 3/10 rating for his tactical decisions and team management during the match. L’Equipe questioned the team’s approach, stating, “It’s hard to understand how his team could have missed the mark so completely in terms of their approach, arriving with so much confidence.” The newspaper also pointed to substitutions, like replacing Desire Doue with Bradley Barcola, as decisions that did not pay off and suggested the coaching was “too deferential to the established order.”
Limited Success for Other French Players
No French player managed to score higher than 5/10. Jules Kounde, Dayot Upamecano, and Adrien Rabiot all received this mark. Rabiot, despite being substituted at halftime after receiving a yellow card, was acknowledged for showing “personality and a huge impact off the ball.”
Spanish Success Contrasts French Disappointment
In stark contrast to the French team’s struggles, L’Equipe lauded several Spanish players and their coach, Luis de la Fuente. Pedro Porro and Dani Olmo were highlighted as standout performers, both earning 8/10 ratings. Olmo was specifically named as the player of the match.
Head coach Luis de la Fuente also received an 8/10, with L’Equipe noting that his team “displayed complete control of the match” and “never looked threatened.” This praise underscored Spain’s dominant performance and tactical superiority in the semi-final encounter.
Conclusion: A Disappointing End to France’s World Cup Campaign
The harsh ratings from L’Equipe serve as a stark reflection of the significant disappointment surrounding France’s World Cup semi-final exit. The publication’s detailed critique highlights individual errors and collective shortcomings that led to their downfall against a well-organized Spanish side. The low scores for established stars like Mbappe and Dembele, alongside Digne and Olise, underscore the severity of the performance dip in a crucial match.
