France’s World Cup stars weren’t spared by L’Equipe after their World Cup marketing campaign got here to an underwhelming finish with a 2-0 defeat by Spain within the semi-finals.
Didier Deschamps’ facet had headed into the match as favourites to win the World Cup, with the view having solely grown with free-flowing attacking performances by way of to the semi-finals.
France, nonetheless, got here unstuck with a Mikel Oyarzabal penalty and Pedro Porro strike stopping them from reaching a 3rd successive World Cup last.
Spain succeeded in maintaining France’s stellar assault, which had scored 16 objectives on the match, at arm’s size all through the match in Dallas.
French newspaper L’Equipe have been damning of their evaluation of the efficiency as Deschamps’ facet have been crushed within the semi-finals of a 3rd straight match by Spain.
Lucas Digne was significantly criticised by L’Equipe, with the Aston Villa full again having clumsily given away the penalty after kicking Lamine Yamal as he went to clear the ball, unaware that the Spain star was closing him down.
Kylian Mbappe was given a 3/10 score by L’Equipe after France misplaced 2-0 to Spain within the World Cup semi-finals
Lucas Digne was given a 2/10 score after giving freely the penalty that led to Spain’s opening objective
Ousmane Dembele was additionally marked at 2/10 after he did ‘virtually all the things unsuitable’
‘Between his uncontrolled header and his foul on Lamine Yamal, he made two errors that resulted in a penalty,’ L’Equipe wrote, whereas giving Digne a 2/10 score.
‘He appeared to have gotten again into the sport earlier than the break however his second half was marked by repeated losses of the ball and his alternative by Theo Hernandez.’
Digne was one in every of three gamers within the French staff to be given a 2/10 mark, with two of their brightest stars Michael Olise and reigning Ballon d’Or Ousmane Dembele additionally critiqued.
‘Initially on the correct, then moved centrally after half an hour, nothing helped: the Ballon d’Or winner did virtually all the things unsuitable,’ L’Equipe mentioned of Dembele’s show.
‘Because the minutes ticked by, he progressively pale till he turned virtually invisible. An enormous disappointment.’
The newspaper acknowledged that after Olise had ‘risen so excessive in earlier matches, he fell very low this time’.
Olise’s lack of precision with a number of failed passes and dribbles had meant he was unable to do any hurt to the Spanish defence.
Captain Kylian Mbappe obtained a 3/10 score for his efficiency, with the outlet noting that he ‘typically appeared very remoted’ and ‘tried to do all the things himself, with out success’.
Didier Deschamps obtained a 3/10 rating after his France facet got here up brief towards Spain
Dani Olmo obtained an 8/10 score with the Spain star deemed to be the participant of the match
No French participant obtained a score above the 5/10, which was given to Jules Kounde, Dayot Upamecano and Adrien Rabiot.
Rabiot was famous as having proven ‘character and a big impact off the ball’, regardless of the midfielder having to be substituted at half-time because of being booked within the first half.
The defeat meant Didier Deschamps’ lengthy reign as France head coach will come to an finish within the third place play-off.
Deschamps, who led France to World Cup glory in 2018 and the ultimate in 2022, was given a 3/10 score for his administration of the semi-final.
‘It is exhausting to grasp how his staff might have missed the mark so utterly when it comes to their method, arriving with a lot confidence,’ L’Equipe acknowledged.
‘The choice to switch [Desire] Doue with [Bradley] Barcola did not repay, and the teaching was too deferential to the established order.’
Against this, L’Equipe highlighted a number of Spanish gamers and their head coach Luis de la Fuente for reward.
Porro and Dani Olmo have been the highest scoring gamers with 8/10 rankings, with the latter named as their participant of the match.
The mark additionally given to De la Fuente, with the newspaper stating his staff ‘displayed full management of the match’ and ‘by no means appeared threatened’.
