Mbappe questions Deschamps tactics in Spain defeat
France captain Kylian Mbappe has questioned the team’s tactics in the shock 2-0 defeat to Spain in the 2026 FIFA World Cup semi-final clash on Tuesday.
Spain produced an efficient performance thanks to goals from Mikel Oyazarbal and Pedro Porro to advance to the final of the tournament for the second time in their history.
The 2010 champions dominated the encounter and denied France attackers the opportunity to hurt them.
Mbappe criticised the tactics adopted by the coach as France endured a frustrating night.
He said: “We were three against two in midfield and against Spain, that’s hard,” Mbappé said after the game.
“Fabian [Ruiz] and Rodri had plenty of time to play. There was a lack of communication on the press. I think we should have done man-to-man press and force them to run with us.
“We didn’t play the game we wanted, technically, tactically.
Read Also: France failed physically, tactically against Spain –Deschamps
“When you don’t do what you have to do in a World Cup semifinal, you don’t win. Spain respected their game plan and what the team usually does. They like to control the ball and the tempo. Our plan was to press them high so they could not install their rhythm.
“Because they are better than us at controlling a game. We didn’t manage to do it. We were too sloppy technically. We could not hurt them when we could have.”
Mbappe admitted that France did not deserve to go through in the encounter due to their poor performance.
He concluded: “Even when we recovered the ball, our first touches were not good enough. That gives a defeat. It is a huge disappointment. But if we are objective, we didn’t put all the ingredients to go to the final.
“As the captain, I have to take all the responsibility and I have no problem with that,” Mbappé said. “We wanted to go to the final. We didn’t go.”
Spain have now defeated France three times in a row and they will play the winner between England and Argentina in the final on Sunday.
Mbappe has scored eight goals in the tournament, he is the joint top scorer alongside Lionel Messi.
