French players criticize 'unacceptable' first-half performance after World Cup bronze loss

France suffered a disappointing 6-4 defeat to England in the World Cup bronze medal match, a result that drew sharp criticism from within the French squad. Midfielder Adrien Rabiot described the team's first-half performance as 'shameful' and 'unacceptable,' citing a lack of pride and effort. He noted a significant improvement in the second half after a stern halftime talk, where players were urged to show more dignity. Rabiot's comments were made in a beIN Sports interview, as reported by L'Equipe. The sentiment was echoed by star player Kylian Mbappé, who told M6 television that he understood the criticism labeling the first half as 'pure clownery' and a disrespect to the national jersey. Mbappé attributed the team's lethargy to their semifinal loss to Spain, stating they were 'completely devastated.' Defender Jules Koundé, who came on as a substitute, expressed his personal view that bronze medal matches should not be played in the World Cup, finding it difficult to prepare for such a game after aiming solely for the final.

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I saw behavior from some players that I had not seen before in this team. It was a disappointment because this was our last chance to finish the tournament with honor. We cannot be sloppy like that.