According to a post by football outlet Touchline on X on July 14, France captain Kylian Mbappe admitted his side failed to meet the demands of a World Cup semifinal following their defeat to Spain.
Mbappe said France did not execute their tactical plan and acknowledged that Spain deserved to progress to the final after remaining faithful to their approach throughout the contest. He admitted that failing to carry out the team's instructions proved costly at such a decisive stage of the tournament.
"When you don't do what you're supposed to do in a World Cup semifinal, you don't win," Mbappe said.
The France captain also praised Spain's discipline and execution, saying they remained committed to their strategy from start to finish. He added that France lacked the quality needed to secure a place in the final.
"Spain stayed true to their game plan. If we are honest, we did not have what it takes to go to the final," Mbappe added.
Despite the disappointment, Mbappe enjoyed another productive World Cup campaign, finishing among the tournament's leading scorers and once again playing a key role for France. However, his performances were not enough to prevent the two-time finalists from falling short against the reigning European champions.
Spain's victory booked their place in the World Cup final, where they now have the chance to add another global title to their recent European success. France, meanwhile, must shift their attention to the third-place playoff as they look to end the tournament on a positive note.
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