Mbappé Breaks Silence After France's World Cup Exit: "We Didn't Do What We Were Supposed to Do"

France captain Kylian Mbappé blamed his team's failure to stick to the game plan for their 2-0 loss to Spain in the 2026 World Cup semifinal, admitting the side came up short both technically and tactically.

Speaking to ESPN after the defeat, Mbappé said Spain took control of possession and dictated the pace, while France struggled to press high and gave the ball away in dangerous moments.

"We didn't play the way we wanted to, neither technically nor tactically. When you don't do what you're supposed to do in a World Cup semifinal, you don't win."

• Kylian Mbappé, France captain

The forward called the result a major disappointment, but also acknowledged that his team did not have everything in place to reach the final.

Key points from Mbappé's assessment

• France failed to execute their planned approach in both attack and defense.
• Spain stuck to their strategy, dominating possession and tempo.
• The French press was ineffective throughout the match.
• Turnovers after regaining the ball proved costly.

Spain through to the final

Spain became the first team to book a place in the 2026 World Cup final with the win. FIFA named Pedro Porro the best player of the semifinal, and Spain forward Mikel Oyarzabal equaled the national team's record for most goals scored in a single World Cup tournament with his display against France.