France's World Cup dream ends with semifinal loss to Spain

France's dream of a third World Cup star was extinguished Tuesday as they slumped to a 0-2 defeat against a superior Spain in the tournament semifinals. The loss, described as a "total shipwreck" by French media, leaves the team with a bitter taste and a meaningless third-place playoff match.

The French squad, captained by Kylian Mbappé, failed to replicate their earlier tournament form. From the outset, they appeared passive, struggling to string passes together and create chances. Spain capitalized on French errors, converting a penalty in the 22nd minute after a foul by Lucas Digne. France's woes were compounded by an injury to defender William Saliba in the 30th minute.

Despite the electric atmosphere at the AT&T Stadium, the French players seemed unable to respond. The first half was characterized by a lack of cohesion and a significant number of unforced errors, leaving the 3,000 French supporters in attendance disheartened. Key offensive players remained largely ineffective, contributing to a first half described as the worst for the French team in the competition.

Spain's victory was described as a "football lesson," with the Spanish team demonstrating greater strength and control throughout the match. France's exit marks the end of their quest for a third World Cup title, despite reaching the semifinals for the third consecutive time. The team's performance has been widely criticized as subpar, with the stronger opponent ultimately prevailing.