Mbappé: France Not 'At the Level' for World Cup Semifinal After Spain Loss

France captain Kylian Mbappé did not hold back in his assessment of his team's performance following their 0-2 defeat to Spain in the World Cup semifinals. Mbappé declared that the French squad was simply not "at the level" required, both technically and tactically, to challenge the Spanish side effectively. He lamented that the team did not play the game they intended, making too many errors and failing to find ways to hurt their opponents.

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We didn't play the game we wanted, neither tactically nor technically, nor in terms of the overall level we showed. When you don't do what you have to do in a World Cup semifinal, you don't win.

"We didn't play the game we wanted, neither tactically nor technically, nor in terms of the overall level we showed," Mbappé stated after the match in Dallas. "When you don't do what you have to do in a World Cup semifinal, you don't win. Spain stayed true to their game plan. The idea was to press them high to prevent them from settling, but we didn't achieve it. There were too many mistakes. We didn't know how to hurt them."

Mbappé further elaborated on the tactical difficulties, noting that their pressing strategy often left them outnumbered in midfield. "With the pressure we applied, we always found ourselves three against two in the center of the pitch, and against Spain, that's already complicated. Fabián and Rodri had plenty of time to play. When we recovered the ball, technically we were not at the level of a World Cup semifinal. When you add all that up, the result is defeat," he explained.

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With the pressure we applied, we always found ourselves three against two in the center of the pitch, and against Spain, that's already complicated. Fabián and Rodri had plenty of time to play. When we recovered the ball, technically we were not at the level of a World Cup semifinal. When you add all that up, the result is defeat.

The French star expressed profound disappointment at failing to reach a third consecutive World Cup final. "Like everyone, a lot of disappointment. It was a dream for us to reach the final, to give our country this opportunity to dream, to make history. Now it's something we have to face. There is enormous disappointment, I can't express it in words. We will have to recover. Football waits for no one," he concluded. France is scheduled to play for third place in Miami.

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Like everyone, a lot of disappointment. It was a dream for us to reach the final, to give our country this opportunity to dream, to make history. Now it's something we have to face. There is enormous disappointment, I can't express it in words. We will have to recover. Football waits for no one.