Didier Deschamps Takes Blame After France's World Cup Exit: 'It's Our Fault'

Didier Deschamps, the head coach of the French national soccer team, took full responsibility for their elimination from the 2026 World Cup, admitting the team fell short of expectations. France's bid for a third consecutive World Cup final ended with a semifinal loss to Spain.

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It's our fault, we weren't at the level.

"It's our fault, we weren't at the level," Deschamps stated, reflecting on the match. He elaborated that the team failed to find solutions and committed technical errors, ultimately being outplayed by Spain. "We weren't good enough to beat Spain," he added, acknowledging the opponent's strong performance.

Despite the disappointment, Deschamps also acknowledged Spain's merit in the victory, calling them a "very strong" team that effectively read France's game. He expressed pride in his team's overall performance throughout the tournament, emphasizing that their journey to the semifinals was a significant achievement.

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We weren't good enough to beat Spain.

However, Deschamps also raised concerns about the officiating, questioning the referee's suitability for a World Cup semifinal. "The referee this afternoon, did he have the level to direct a World Cup semifinal? I leave you the answer," he posed to the media, carefully framing his comment as a question rather than a direct complaint.

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The referee this afternoon, did he have the level to direct a World Cup semifinal? I leave you the answer.

Reflecting on his 14-year tenure, which saw France reach two World Cup finals and win one, Deschamps expressed pride in maintaining the team at a "very high level." He bid farewell, leaving the team in a strong position after a successful era.

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We felt very proud of what we achieved, we shouldn't throw away everything that has been done well.