France suffered a 0-2 defeat against Spain in the World Cup semi-final, failing to advance to the final. After the match, French captain Kylian Mbappé gave an interview to Fox Sports, stating that he takes full responsibility for the elimination as the team’s captain.
Reporter: Most importantly, what made Spain such a tough opponent for France tonight?
Kylian Mbappé: I think it was a difficult game for us. We had a tactical plan to press high, engage them in one-on-one duels, disrupt their rhythm and stop them from playing their usual possession football. But we failed to execute that plan. We gave their midfield far too much time on the ball. Ultimately, they have the quality to control games, so you cannot beat them if you let them play their way. Their penalty also helped them settle into the game. After that spot kick, our performance level in the second half was simply not good enough to reach the final.
Reporter: I know how much pressure you put on yourself. How would you assess your own performance tonight?
Kylian Mbappé: Of course. At the end of the day, you enjoy all the glory when you win, and you have to… damn it, take all the criticism when you lose. It is part of football, part of my career and part of my life. As captain, I take full responsibility, no excuses. We wanted to reach the final, but we fell short. Now we have to accept all the judgements that come with this result.
Reporter: Finally, I know you share a close bond with Didier Deschamps. What did you say to your coach after this defeat?
Kylian Mbappé: For us French people, Didier Deschamps’ status remains unchanged. He has made incredible history both as a head coach and a player. This is his final World Cup match. We will give our absolute best in the third-place playoff for him. He deserves it, and the fans deserve a positive finish to this tournament as we end our World Cup campaign with a third-place finish.
