Deschamps questions referee after World Cup semifinal loss to Spain

Didier Deschamps, the coach of France, voiced his frustration following the team's elimination by Spain in the 2026 World Cup semifinals. He specifically questioned the officiating of Salvadoran referee Iván Barton, doubting his suitability for a match of such magnitude.

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I ask myself a question and I will not answer it: Does the referee have the level to officiate a World Cup semifinal? We've had some like that before and I won't get into it. And I'm not saying this because we lost, but there were some situations, many times also against us.

"I ask myself a question and I will not answer it: Does the referee have the level to officiate a World Cup semifinal? We've had some like that before and I won't get into it. And I'm not saying this because we lost, but there were some situations, many times also against us," Deschamps stated to an official media outlet after the match in Dallas.

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They are devastated because we had a lot of ambition. But we must be fair and recognize that we were a step below against a team that knew how to control the game.

Reflecting on his players' performance, Deschamps conveyed their deep disappointment. "They are devastated because we had a lot of ambition. But we must be fair and recognize that we were a step below against a team that knew how to control the game," he said. He accepted responsibility, emphasizing, "The responsibility is, above all, ours." Deschamps also explained that the team "was less dangerous in attack than we could have been."

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The responsibility is, above all, ours.

Despite the loss, Deschamps acknowledged the need to accept the outcome. "We have to accept it," he concluded, highlighting the team's ambition and the sting of not achieving their goals.

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We were less dangerous in attack than we could have been.