Where did it all go wrong for France against Spain?

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15 July 2026

France suffered a 2-0 loss against

Spain

in the

semi-final of the 2026 World Cup

, crashing out with a whimper on the grandest stage.

Despite being the overwhelming favourites to win the clash thanks to their blockbuster squad,

La Roja

got the better of

Les Bleus

The much-touted front four of Kylian Mbappe, Michael Olise, Ousmane Dembele, and Bradley Barcola failed to make any impact, and the defence struggled to contain Spain’s fluidity.

France boss Didier Deschamps blamed the referee for his team’s clanger, but even playmaker Rayan

Cherki admitted that the legendary coach/defender is clutching at straws

They were simply outclassed by a team that had better tactics on the night.

manager Luis de la Fuente clearly had the better plan.

So where did it all go wrong for

France

versus Spain? The answer is easy – in midfield.

For all of France’s talents up top and in defence, their midfield play and overall technical quality were not up to par.

The collective football culture of

was on display, and

had no answer for it.

France do not have central midfielders who can take charge of proceedings and dictate play in the engine room.

Aurelien Tchouameni and Adrien Rabiot do not shine in those situations. Meanwhile, their counterparts, Rodri and Fabian Ruiz, absolutely dominate games this way.

Rodri and Ruiz never strayed too far from each other and stayed connected to their defence, punching passes into Dani Olmo, the front three, and overlapping full-backs at will.

France, on the other hand, had the better frontline, but didn’t have the mechanisms and progressive play to get the ball to them in areas where they can be dangerous.

In 2018,

had Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kante, a technician and a gritty ball-winner alongside the ever-willing Antoine Griezmann to impose themselves in midfield.

This time around, they didn’t have those qualities and Deschamps never properly addressed the issue.

Combine that with his dreadful substitutions, and it is easy to see how

came away with the victory.

Deschamps leaves

as a legend and perhaps their greatest ever manager.

are in a much better position than they could have dreamt of in 2012.

However, whoever comes in (most likely Zinedine Zidane) will need to improve their play in midfield.

He must embrace interconnectedness in the centre of the park and not just expect the ball to magically arrive in the final third.

Kylian Mbappe reveals the big mistake France made in ‘sloppy’ World Cup semi-final defeat to Spain

The Independent

Mbappé breaks another France record against Spain

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Kylian Mbappé ready for France’s World Cup semifinal against Spain after ‘slight’ ankle injury

France v Spain LIVE: Kylian Mbappe and Lamine Yamal face off in spectacular World Cup semi-final

Kylian Mbappé managed in training, France captain will face Spain in World Cup semi-final

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