France coach Didier Deschamps described his players as "devastated" following their World Cup semi-final defeat to Spain on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The French team, known for its free-flowing style and having scored 16 goals in six games, had been considered among the tournament's best. However, Spain's dominant performance left France's ambitions for a third World Cup title in ruins.

"Of course, there is a lot of disappointment," Deschamps said immediately after the match. He acknowledged that while France had high ambitions, they were "a notch below on the technical level against a team that controlled the game well," adding, "But first of all, it's our fault, I don't want to blame anyone."

Despite this, Deschamps questioned the referee's performance, specifically pointing to Ivan Barton from El Salvador, who awarded Spain an early penalty after French player Lucas Digne fouled Lamine Yamal in the first half. "I'll ask a loaded question and I won't answer it," Deschamps remarked, also noting, "There were some favourable calls, too," without further elaboration.

Deschamps is set to step down after the tournament, leaving France to reflect on a campaign that ended short of their ultimate goal.

Sources

France 24 English