France’s Kylian Mbappe appears to be like dejected after the semi-final conflict towards Spain at Dallas Stadium, Arlington, Texas, US, July 14, 2026. — ReutersÂ
Kylian Mbappe rued the tip of France’s World Cup dream on Tuesday, blaming tactical and technical blunders for his aspect’s 2-0 semi-final defeat to France.
Mbappe had emerged as one of many stars of the match throughout France’s run to the final 4, rattling in eight objectives on the tip of a free-scoring assault that delighted followers worldwide.
However the 27-year-old French captain’s goals of a 3rd straight World Cup ultimate look ended abruptly as Spain outplayed Les Bleus on the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Mbappe informed 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 stated.
“And when you don’t do what you’re supposed to do in a World Cup semi-final, you don’t win,” the Actual Madrid star added.
“Our goal was to press them high up the pitch to prevent them from settling into that slow, controlled rhythm — because when it comes to controlling the game, they are better than us. We failed to do that.”
Mbappe pinpointed the crux of the issue in midfield, the place France’s duo of Adrien Rabiot and Aurelien Tchouameni quickly discovered 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 stated. “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 stated France’s crestfallen squad had been decided to bounce again after digesting the teachings of the loss.
“It was a dream for us to reach the final, to give our country the chance to keep dreaming and to make history,” he stated.
“Now, it is something we have to face with our heads held high. I believe that when you win, you win with your head held high; so when you lose, you have to lose with your head held high, too.
“However proper now, there’s immense disappointment. I discover it exhausting to place into phrases simply how disenchanted the squad and I are.
“Yet even if it might seem a bit robotic at times, we have to pick ourselves up, go on vacation, and move on to the next chapter. Because football waits for no one. We have to start over, put this failure behind us, and learn from it.”
