Dallas, October 7 The story begins with a disappointing end to France’s campaign in the 2025 FIFA World Cup, as they suffered a defeat to Spain in the semi-final, a result that was described as emphatic by the scoreline and performance. At its heart, this loss was a shock to the team, who had entered the tournament as the top-ranked team and favourites to win.
For those involved, the defeat was a tough pill to swallow, especially given the team’s potent attacking lineup and the fact that their manager, Didier Deschamps, was poised to retire after 14 years in charge with the ultimate prize in football. What unfolded on the field was a lacklustre performance from France, who recorded their lowest expected goals in a World Cup match since Opta began tracking the competition, with just 0.3 expected goals.
The team did not register a shot on target until the 82nd minute, when substitute Desire Doue attempted a lob from over 30 yards out. Spain’s first goal came from a penalty converted by Mikel Oyarzabal after a foul by Lucas Digne on Lamine Yamal, a decision some viewed as harsh.
France’s struggles
A poor challenge by Adrien Rabiot early in the game led to him being booked and eventually withdrawn at halftime, while William Saliba, playing through pain, lasted only 30 minutes before being forced off. France’s attacking players were largely ineffective: Kylian Mbappe acknowledged tactical errors in pressing, Ousmane Dembele made one notable early pass but was otherwise peripheral, Bradley Barcola was withdrawn and ineffective, and Michael Olise, described as the most creative player in the squad, was nullified by Spain and substituted with 18 minutes remaining.
Rayan Cherki stated they lost ‘against ourselves,’ citing technical, tactical, and physical shortcomings, and suggesting past ease may have bred complacency. Patrick Vieira, 1998 World Cup winner and ITV Sport pundit, criticised the team’s overall performance, saying top players failed to deliver collectively.
Spain’s victory
Spain’s win marked their third consecutive semi-final win over France, following a 2-1 win in the Euro 2023 semi-final and a 5-4 Nations League semi-final triumph the previous summer. For France, the defeat means they will now play in the third-place play-off in Miami, having failed to reach the final in New York as anticipated. As the team looks to regroup and move forward, they will have to reflect on what went wrong and how they can improve.
The loss is a setback, but it is also an opportunity for the team to learn and grow. What follows next will be crucial, as France seeks to bounce back from this disappointing defeat and regain their footing in the world of football.
