Ousmane Dembele's half-time comments criticising France's pressing performance during their World Cup semi-final defeat to Spain have reportedly angered several of his teammates, according to French outlet L'Equipe. The Paris Saint-Germain star, 29, expressed frustration with the team's pressing strategy as they trailed 1-0 at the break, but some players felt he was trying to shift blame away from himself.
France's World Cup Exit
Didier Deschamps' side fell to a 2-0 loss in Dallas on Tuesday, ending their hopes of reaching a third consecutive World Cup final. Despite being pre-tournament favourites, France struggled to impose themselves against a dominant Spain side. Mikel Oyarzabal opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 22nd minute, and Spain doubled their lead before the hour mark, leaving France with a limp exit.
The defeat marks the end of Deschamps' tenure as head coach, with the 57-year-old set to step down after Saturday's third-place play-off against England. Zinedine Zidane is widely expected to take over, having been out of work since leaving Real Madrid in 2021.
Dembele's Comments and Fallout
According to L'Equipe, Dembele voiced his dissatisfaction with France's pressing during the half-time team talk, specifically criticising the lack of intensity and coordination. However, some teammates were irritated by his remarks, interpreting them as an attempt to absolve himself of responsibility for the team's poor first-half display.
Captain Kylian Mbappe, however, appeared to agree with Dembele's assessment in his post-match interview. "Right from the start, we were pressing three against two. We messed up there," Mbappe admitted. "Against Spain, we need to press one for one. And even when we recovered the ball, our ball touches and movements were not worthy of a World Cup semi-final. We did not have what it takes to go to the World Cup final, to be honest."
Deschamps' Reaction
Deschamps also expressed disappointment with his team's execution of his tactical plan. "We were a bit below par and less dangerous offensively than we could have been," he said. "We made a few technical errors and missed passes that could have led to situations and chances. We have to accept it; this is the highest level, even if it hurts. It was the last step before this potential final... So we'll play the third-place match. We'll play it; it doesn't take anything away from what we've achieved. But in this match, Spain showed something extra."
Looking Ahead
France will now face England in the third-place play-off on Saturday, a match that will serve as Deschamps' final game in charge. The incoming Zidane will inherit a squad that reached the semi-finals but fell short against a superior Spanish side. The Nations League campaign, where France have been drawn against Turkey, Belgium, and Italy, will be his first test.
