Kylian Mbappe offered a blunt assessment of France\u2019s World Cup semifinal exit on Tuesday, saying his team was too \u201csloppy\u201d to keep Spain from controlling a 2-0 victory in Arlington, Texas.<\/p>\n
The France captain pointed to breakdowns in both the game plan and its execution after Les Bleus were denied a third consecutive appearance in the World Cup final.<\/p>\n
Spain consistently created an extra man in midfield, leaving Rodri and Fabian Ruiz with the time and space to dictate possession.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were three against two in midfield and against Spain, that\u2019s hard,\u201d Mbappe said. \u201cFabian 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
France entered the semifinal having won its first six matches and scored 16 goals, but struggled to establish its attack against Spain.<\/p>\n
Mikel Oyarzabal converted a penalty in the 22nd minute after Lucas Digne fouled Lamine Yamal, and Pedro Porro doubled the advantage shortly before the hour mark.<\/p>\n
Mbappe said France\u2019s plan had been to apply pressure high up the field and prevent Spain from settling into its preferred possession game.<\/p>\n
Instead, Spain regularly played through the press and quickly recovered the ball whenever France briefly regained it.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe didn\u2019t play the game we wanted, technically, tactically,\u201d Mbappe said. \u201cWhen you don\u2019t do what you have to do in a World Cup semifinal, you don\u2019t win.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Real Madrid forward also criticized France\u2019s work with the ball, saying poor first touches and missed opportunities prevented his team from testing Spain when openings appeared.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were too sloppy technically,\u201d Mbappe said. \u201cWe could not hurt them when we could have.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Didier Deschamps tried to shift the match by removing Adrien Rabiot at halftime and later introducing Desire Doue and Rayan Cherki.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The changes did little to disrupt Spain\u2019s control, and Mbappe was held scoreless after entering the match with eight tournament goals.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
He remains tied with Argentina\u2019s Lionel Messi for the Golden Boot lead. Mbappe also scored eight goals at the 2022 World Cup, when France lost the final to Argentina in a penalty shootout.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cAs the captain, I have to take all the responsibility and I have no problem with that,\u201d Mbappe said. \u201cWe wanted to go to the final. We didn\u2019t go.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
France will face the loser of Wednesday\u2019s Argentina-England semifinal in Saturday\u2019s third-place match in Miami Gardens, Fla.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u2014Reuters\u2014<\/p>\n
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