Mbappé questions France’s tactical setup after Spain loss
The Real Madrid forward fell at the World Cup semi-finals to a superb Spain, and Mbappé appeared to question his team’s setup after the final whistle.
Spain were simply too good. In the World Cup semi-final against France, there was simply no stopping them from endlessly spinning like dancing dolphins, moving this way and that at angles and in ways you can only observe from a distance but never truly experience as one of them. Leave that to the other species, as I bob up and down in my flippers and snorkel, huffing and puffing like a fool.
Once the game was over for France and they broke the surface to breathe at last, talisman Kylian Mbappé appeared furious at the decision to play the way they did.
“We were too sloppy”
“We were three against two in midfield and against Spain, that’s hard,” Mbappé said post-game before revealing that both “Fabian [Ruiz] and Rodri had plenty of time to play,” adding that “there was a lack of communication on the press."
🇫🇷 France 0-2 Spain 🇪🇸
— Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) July 14, 2026
The European champions are looking very much like suitable world champions. pic.twitter.com/mm0vpZ8662
“We didn’t play the game we wanted, technically, tactically”
He then suggested the off-ball tactics from Didier Deschamps were not what he would have liked, saying: "I think we should have done man-to-man press and force them to run with us.”
Mbappé continued: “we didn’t play the game we wanted, technically, tactically,” Mbappé said. “When you don’t do what you have to do in a World Cup semifinal, you don’t win. Spain respected their game plan and what the team usually does. They like to control the ball and the tempo. Our plan was to press them high so they could not install their rhythm.
“Because they are better than us at controlling a game. We didn’t manage to do it. We were too sloppy technically. We could not hurt them when we could have.”
“Even when we recovered the ball, our first touches were not good enough,” he fumed. “That gives a defeat. It is a huge disappointment. But if we are objective, we didn’t put all the ingredients to go to the final,” Mbappé concluded.
1 – Kylian Mbappé et Michael Olise n’ont échangé qu’une seule passe dans le jeu face à l’Espagne, contre 66 lors des six premières rencontres de cette Coupe du Monde.
— OptaJean (@OptaJean) July 15, 2026
Impuissance. pic.twitter.com/WlKy7PQzrH
Related stories
The Hand of God turns 40
Trump's plans for the World Cup final
Get closer to the game! Whether you like your soccer of the European variety or that on this side of the pond, our AS USA app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more. Plus, stay updated on NFL, NBA and all other big sports stories as well as the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.
And there’s more: check out our TikTok and Instagram reels for bite-sized visual takes on all the biggest soccer news and insights.
Complete your personal details to comment