Kylian Mbappe has spoken of 'immense disappointment' after France's World Cup dream was shattered by a 2-0 semi-final defeat to Spain. The French captain attributed the loss to tactical and technical blunders, particularly in midfield.
Tactical and Technical Blunders
Mbappe, who had been one of the tournament's standout players with eight goals, told French broadcaster M6 that the team failed to execute their game plan. 'I don't think we played the match we wanted to play -- whether tactically, technically, or in terms of our overall performance level,' he said.
He highlighted the midfield battle as a key area where France struggled, with Adrien Rabiot and Aurelien Tchouameni being outmatched by Spain's trio of Rodri, Dani Olmo, and Fabian Ruiz. 'We kept finding ourselves outnumbered 3-on-2 in midfield,' Mbappe explained. 'And against Spain, that's a real problem.'
Determined to Bounce Back
Despite the crushing defeat, Mbappe remains determined to learn from the experience. 'It was a dream for us to reach the final, to give our country the chance to keep dreaming and to make history,' he said. 'Now, it is something we have to face with our heads held high.'
Mbappe emphasized the need for the team to recover, reflect, and move forward. '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.'
