Kylian Mbappe rued the end of France’s World Cup dream on Tuesday, blaming tactical and technical blunders for his side’s 2-0 semi-final defeat to Spain.
Mbappe had emerged as one of the stars of the tournament during France’s run to the last four, rattling in eight goals at the tip of a free-scoring attack that delighted fans worldwide.
But the 27-year-old French captain’s dreams of a third straight World Cup final appearance ended abruptly as Spain outplayed Les Bleus at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Mbappe told French broadcaster M6 that the loss had been a “huge disappointment” for the French squad.
“I don’t think we played the match we wanted to play — whether tactically, technically, or in terms of our overall performance level,” Mbappe said.
“But right now, there is immense disappointment. I find it hard to put into words just how disappointed the squad and I are.
“Yet even if it might seem a bit robotic at times, we have to pick ourselves up, go on vacation, and move on to the next chapter. Because football waits for no one. We have to start over, put this failure behind us, and learn from it.”
–