French media have reacted with dismay after France's World Cup semi-final defeat by Spain, describing the performance as a 'collective failure' and a 'nightmare'. The match, played on Bastille Day in Dallas, saw Spain dominate and win 2-1, ending France's hopes of reaching the final.
L'Équipe laments 'mentally sunk' players
France's sports daily L'Équipe headlined its match report 'Demolished'. Vincent Duluc wrote that France's World Cup adventure 'deserved more than this disaster of a game, this disaster of strategy and emotions'. He noted that the team could not even complain about losing due to the 'feeling of barely really having played, and of betraying the magic of this American dream'. Duluc added that the players appeared 'mentally sunk by the emotional dimension of the match'.
Crash from high expectations
French fans had high hopes, with the team unbeaten and Kylian Mbappé as a hero. Bars were packed before the match, but streets cleared early after the defeat. Le Monde's Alexandre Lemarié said 'the fall to earth is as brutal as it is painful', calling it a 'cruel disappointment' and a 'collective failure'.
Regional press reaction
La Voix du Nord wrote that the semi-final would 'remain a nightmare'. Ouest France headlined its front page 'The end of the American dream' over a picture of Mbappé with his head in his hand. Libération wrote 'They fell from very, very high'.
Recognition of Spain's quality
In Le Figaro, Baptiste Desprez acknowledged Spain's superiority: 'Les Bleus, stifled, pummelled and incapable of three passes despite their promise from the start of the competition, faced players stronger than them.' He concluded, 'It's sad. Infuriating. But that's sport. The strongest won.'
