Kylian Mbappé critical of tactics by 'sloppy' France in loss
France striker Kylian Mbappé expressed his views on the team’s performance following their 2-0 defeat to Spain in the World Cup semifinals. Mbappé noted that France did not play well enough to secure a spot in a third consecutive World Cup final. The loss means France will now compete in the third-place match.
Mbappé, a prominent figure in the tournament, struggled to create scoring opportunities during the match. He recorded only 15 touches in the first half, the fewest among all forwards. His most notable action during the initial period involved disputing a penalty decision that led to Spain’s first goal.
Tactical Disappointment and Referee Criticism
The penalty, awarded after Lucas Digne fouled Lamine Yamal, resulted in Mikel Oyarzabal converting the spot-kick in the 22nd minute, giving Spain a lead they maintained. Mbappé’s best chance to score came in the 67th minute, but his shot was deflected wide by Spain defender Marc Cucurella. By this point, Spain had already established a two-goal advantage.
Mbappé commented on Spain’s playing style, stating, “It’s a team who loves to have control of the game, control of the ball. That’s what we let them do. We let the midfield too much time to play, and at the end of the day they had quality to play. It’s difficult when you don’t change the play of Spain. We weren’t at the level to go to the final.”
France coach Didier Deschamps also voiced his dissatisfaction, particularly regarding the officiating. Deschamps questioned the referee’s suitability for a World Cup semifinal, specifically mentioning the penalty decision. He indicated that his concerns extended beyond just the penalty, referring to an “accumulation of things.” The referee for the match was Iván Barton from El Salvador.
The penalty incident involved Digne attempting to clear a cross but instead making contact with Yamal, who had sprinted in from Digne’s blindside. Although Yamal did not possess the ball at the moment of contact, the foul occurred within the box, leading to the penalty call. This decision shifted the momentum of the game in Spain’s favour.
Looking Ahead to the Final Match
Mbappé received a yellow card in the 86th minute after colliding with Spain goalkeeper Unai Simón. Mbappé had started the semifinal after being substituted in the 77th minute of France’s 2-0 quarterfinal victory over Morocco, where he scored his eighth goal of the tournament.
Both Mbappé and Argentina‘s Lionel Messi currently have eight goals each in the tournament. Mbappé holds a tiebreaker advantage with a 3-2 lead in assists. France will play in the third-place match on Saturday in Miami Gardens, Florida, against the loser of the other semifinal match between Argentina and England, which is scheduled for Wednesday.
Spain will advance to the final in East Rutherford, New Jersey, to face the winner of the Argentina versus England match. This third-place game will also mark the final match for Deschamps as France’s coach, as he plans to step down at the conclusion of the tournament after 14 years in the role.
Spain midfielder Rodri commented on France’s capabilities, stating, “They (France) can punish you at every single moment, so I think the focus in every single minute was key in this game.”
Mbappé acknowledged his responsibility as captain, stating, “At the end of the day, you take all the glory when you win. When you don’t win … it’s part of the game. As the captain, I have to take all the responsibility, and I have no problem with that. We wanted to go to the final. We didn’t go.”
France previously won the World Cup eight years ago in Russia and lost to Messi’s Argentina in a penalty shootout in the final four years ago in Qatar.
Source: sportsnet.ca
