French Media Scolds National Football Team After World Cup Exit: 'A Football Lesson'

The French press delivered a scathing assessment of the national football team following its World Cup semi-final defeat to Spain. The team's performance was widely condemned, with outlets describing them as "faltering and uninspired," displaying a "sad face," and showing "no personality."

Le Figaro and L'Équipe highlighted the team's struggles, with L'Équipe lamenting "The breakdown in Dallas" and stating France was "asphyxiated in all sectors of play." The newspaper noted that on Bastille Day, "their day of glory did not arrive," as they received "almost a football lesson from the Spanish."

Individual players also faced criticism. La Voix du Nord singled out Lucas Digne for "the irreparable" and Michael Olise for failing to succeed, dragging the "entire team down." The publication concluded that "class was Spanish."

Several newspapers focused on the emotional toll of the loss. Ouest-France ran the headline "The end of the American dream" above a photo of Kylian Mbappé with his hand over his face. Le Télégramme summarized the match with "Disillusionment," featuring a picture of the French captain grimacing on the ground, symbolizing a "nightmare evening."

While acknowledging the superiority of the Spanish team, described as "masters of the game," "solid and well-organized," the French media universally criticized their own team's performance. Midi Libre reported "France beaten, sad to cry," noting the "harmless" French players were dominated by an "inflexible Spain" on their way to a potential treble. The team will play for third place against the loser of the England-Argentina match, marking a potential final game for coach Didier Deschamps.