Kylian Mbappé: “I can understand some who think it's a mockery”

France suffered a dramatic 6-4 defeat to England in the third-place playoff of the 2026 World Cup, a match described as one of the most bizarre and goal-laden in the tournament's history. The French team found themselves in a dire situation at halftime, trailing 4-0, which led to widespread fan anger.

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I can understand some who think (the first half) is a mockery, that we haven't respected the jersey. I would say rather that we have been human and that, unfortunately, we are not allowed to be human.

Following the match, captain Kylian Mbappé addressed the media, acknowledging the fans' frustration. "I can understand some who think (the first half) is a mockery, that we haven't respected the jersey. I would say rather that we have been human and that, unfortunately, we are not allowed to be human," Mbappé stated, reflecting on the team's performance. He admitted that England "got the jump on us" early in the game, but noted that the team regrouped to play at a "high level" in the second half.

The loss was particularly poignant as it marked the final match for French coach Didier Deschamps after 14 years. Mbappé expressed regret over the team's first-half performance, feeling they had let the coach down. "It's more of a shame for the coach. We wanted to do something for him, but unfortunately, the first half gives the impression that we left him stranded, and that is absolutely not what we wanted to convey," he said with visible remorse.

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I think they got the jump on us early. Then, in the second half, we returned to being high-level players.

Despite the collective disappointment, the match was a landmark occasion for Mbappé personally. His two goals in the game brought his total World Cup career tally to 22, surpassing Lionel Messi's record of 21 goals. This achievement solidifies Mbappé's status as an all-time great scorer in World Cup history, even amidst the team's disappointing finish.

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It's more of a shame for the coach. We wanted to do something for him, but unfortunately, the first half gives the impression that we left him stranded, and that is absolutely not what we wanted to convey.