Didier Deschamps has questioned whether the referee was up to the task of officiating a World Cup semi-final after France's 1-0 defeat to Spain ended their tournament hopes. The outgoing France boss, who will leave his role after the match, stopped short of directly blaming the official but raised doubts about his suitability.
Deschamps' Referee Remarks
Speaking after the match, Deschamps said: "Of course, there is a lot of disappointment. The players are devastated because we had a lot of ambition, even though we also have to be realistic and acknowledge that today we were a notch below on the technical level against a team that controlled the game well. But first of all, it's our fault, I don't want to blame anyone."
However, he added: "I'll ask a loaded question and I won't answer it. Is the referee at the level required to officiate a World Cup semi-final? And I'm not saying this just because we lost today. There were quite a few situations. There were some favourable calls, too."
The Key Decision
The major decision of the game came midway through the first half when Lucas Digne fouled Lamine Yamal in the box, conceding a penalty. Mikel Oyarzabal converted from the spot, giving Spain the lead and control of the contest. France had been the most impressive team throughout the tournament and were eyeing a third successive final, but they struggled to recover.
Mbappe's Criticism
Kylian Mbappe, who had been sensational earlier in the tournament, appeared to level blame at Deschamps, raising questions over his tactics. The Real Madrid star said: "We didn't play the game we wanted, technically, tactically. When you don't do what you have to do in a World Cup semi-final, you don't win. Spain respected their game plan and what the team usually does. They like to control the ball and the tempo."
Deschamps' Legacy
Deschamps will bring the curtain down on an impressive reign that delivered the 2018 World Cup, but the former player clearly had a bitter taste about the defeat. France had been dominant throughout the tournament, but Spain's technical control proved too much.
