Mbappe endured one of the most painful defeats of his career when Spain handed France a 2‑0 loss in the 2026 World Cup semi‑final at AT&T Stadium in Dallas. Following the match, the Les Bleus captain gave a candid assessment, admitting that “we didn’t know how to hurt Spain.”
Speaking to French broadcaster M6, Mbappe explained that France failed to play the style they had envisioned: “We didn’t play the game we wanted to play, whether tactically, technically, or in the overall level of play. A World Cup semi‑final demands that you execute your plan; when you don’t, you don’t win. Spain stuck to their philosophy of ball‑control and tempo.”
Mbappe also highlighted that France’s shortcomings were largely due to execution errors. “Our press was supposed to be high to prevent the rhythm from settling, but we failed to maintain it. Technical mistakes piled up; we did not know how to hurt them when we needed to hurt them.”
Reaching another final remained a dream for Mbappe
For the first time in his international career, Mbappe will miss the World Cup final, пасп despite starring in the 2018 and 2022 finals. Although a semi‑final appearance is commendable,uisine the prospect of another final was “a dream” for the newly minted Real Madrid star.
When asked about his feelings, Mbappe spoke of the collective heartbreak that settled in the French locker‑room. “Everyone felt profound disappointment. It was a dream for us to reach the final and offer our country a chance to dream, to create history. Now we must face this with heads held high. The disappointment is overwhelming; I struggle to find words. We must lift our heads, rest, and come back stronger. Football waits for no one. We also have commitments at club and international levels.”
