Kylian Mbappe blames Deschamps for Spain defeat

Kylian Mbappe has publicly challenged Didier Deschamps’ tactical approach to France’s World Cup semi-final defeat by Spain, exposing a possible breakdown in the unity that had marked their relationship. The criticism comes after Zinedine Zidane replaced Deschamps as national-team coach.

France lost 2-0 to Spain in the 2026 World Cup semi-final, ending their campaign before the final. Mbappe, who captains Les Bleus, said the team failed to carry out its original plan and suggested the tactical choices made by Deschamps and his staff contributed to the result.

The France captain also argued that playing with four attacking players left Aurélien Tchouaméni and Adrien Rabiot too isolated in midfield against a Spanish side built around possession. He said falling behind made the task harder against an opponent that controls the ball, while stressing that a World Cup knockout match offers no second leg to correct mistakes.

Mbappe described the semi-final as a missed opportunity and said France’s quality and individual talent were not enough without the right collective structure. He also accepted Spain’s superiority, identifying the tournament winners as the world’s best team at that point. The comments place responsibility for France’s elimination on the approach used under Deschamps, even as Mbappe said the squad would work to create new opportunities.