adminKylian Mbappe takes aim at France manager in wake of 2026 World Cup exit – “We should have played…”
On Tuesday, three additional Real Madrid players saw their 2026 World Cup journey end as France fell 2–0 to Spain. Kylian Mbappe, Aurélien Tchouaméni, and Ibrahima Konaté will now miss out on a winners’ medal, though they still have a chance to claim third place this weekend if they beat the loser of the Argentina-England semifinal.
It was a lackluster showing from France, who were thoroughly outplayed by Spain. Yet Mbappe believes the defeat was largely self-inflicted, sharing his candid post-match reflections with the media (via MD).
“I think we didn’t execute the game we intended—neither tactically nor technically, in terms of the overall level we displayed. And when you fall short of what’s required in a World Cup semifinal, you don’t come out on top. Spain stayed true to their identity and what they had pledged.
They’re a side that thrives on controlling possession and tempo. Our aim was to press them high to prevent them from settling into that deceptive rhythm.
Because when it comes to game management, they’re superior to us. We just couldn’t pull it off, and we made far too many technical mistakes.”
Mbappe: We Should Have Gone Man-for-Man Against Spain
Mbappe, who contributed to Real Madrid setting a World Cup record this summer, suggested that Didier Deschamps’ tactical approach played a key role in Spain’s triumph.
He argued that La Roja overpowered Les Bleus largely due to their numerical edge in midfield.
“We failed to hurt them when it mattered most. It was on us to shift the balance, and that’s where we came up short. We didn’t bring all the necessary elements to reach the final. From the start, they consistently enjoyed a three-against-two superiority in midfield.
And against Spain, that’s a major problem. Fabián Ruiz and Rodri had all the time in the world to operate. There was a lack of coordination in our pressing.
I believe we should have played man-to-man against Spain, forcing them to chase us. Even when we regained possession in their half, our first touches weren’t up to the standard expected in a World Cup semifinal.”
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