A disastrous performance in the first half of the third-place match saw France head into the locker room trailing 4-0, creating a tense atmosphere that eventually boiled over during post-match media interviews. Rabiot did not hold back when assessing the performance. “We started this first half in a quite embarrassing way. I saw behaviors in some players that I had never seen until now. It is a bit disappointing because it was the last game to look good in this competition,” Rabiot stated.

“There is a lot of disappointment after the loss to Spain, but we had to give everything until the end and we cannot settle for doing things halfway just like that.” Despite the terrible start, France showed signs of life after the break, a point noted by other members of the squad. “We talked at halftime, told ourselves we had to show some pride, and the second half was much better, because in the first half there were some unacceptable attitudes,” Rabiot concluded.

Deschamps’ response

This unfortunately marked Deschamps‘ final match with France, concluding the career of an unquestionable legend in the history of the team. However, his farewell was bitter, compounded by Rabiot’s controversial remarks, which the manager addressed with authority.

“I am not going to settle scores today!“ Deschamps said. “The players know it well. I am not going to point fingers. Instead, I always tell them what I think! Certainly, as Kylian said, it had to be digested.

“But it is I who made a mistake, I should have made other decisions from the start of the match, they can say it, and maybe it would have turned out better. Everyone is judged by their performances. Obviously, some players could have done better. I wish the best to everyone.”

France left reeling

There is no denying that France put together a surprising run throughout the tournament due to their dominance. Their World Cup journey included victories over Senegal (3-1), Iraq (3-0), Norway (4-1), Sweden (3-0 in the round of 32), Paraguay (1-0 in the round of 16), and Morocco (2-0 in the quarterfinals) before hitting a wall against Spain. The Spanish side secured a 2-0 victory in the semifinals, shattering French dreams of lifting another trophy.

That elimination left deep scars within the locker room. According to L’Equipe, several players identified Deschamps as the main culprit behind the loss to Spain. Specifically, players pointed to the decision to keep Aurelien Tchouameni in the starting lineup and the substitution of Rabiot at halftime. The unrest grew because the coach maintained the exact same system during the second half, restricting his adjustments to player-for-player substitutions without altering the overall tactical approach.

“In response to Didier Deschamps’ comments questioning whether our match referee was at the level to officiate the semifinal, FIFA’s response is clear: ‘Yes, definitely.’ Our referees are world class,“ Collina said in a statement shared across FIFA’s official social media channels.

Deschamps, whose future at the helm of the French national team remains highly uncertain after missing out on back-to-back World Cup finals, was visibly frustrated by the semifinal exit. The defeat capped off a tournament where France struggled to find the cohesive, dominant form expected of them.

Meanwhile, Kylian Mbappe also voiced his immense disappointment over France’s abrupt exit from the final. Following the semifinal loss to Spain, the French squad must now regroup to face England in the third-place playoff match, which has its date and venue officially locked in.

Not the first time Collina has defended World Cup officials

This is far from the first refereeing controversy to dominate headlines during this World Cup cycle. Earlier in the tournament, Collina was forced to publicly back his officiating crew following a highly contentious Round of 16 fixture between Egypt and Argentina.

Several other high-profile matches have drawn sharp criticism from managers, players, and pundits alike. Notably, after England eliminated Norway in the quarterfinals, Erling Haaland’s father, Alfie Haaland, took to social media to heavily imply that officiating played a major role in securing the Three Lions’ victory.

Rodri weighs in on semifinal officiating

Deschamps wasn’t the only figure pointing fingers after the semifinal. Spain midfielder Rodri, while praising the standout performance of teammate Lamine Yamal, also noted several missed calls and unpenalized fouls by Barton that went unaddressed during the physical matchup.

With the drama of the semifinals in the rearview mirror, supporters from both Spain and Argentina are shifting their focus to the officiating assignment for the upcoming final. As the crew is finalized, the soccer world awaits the highly anticipated climax to an unforgettable World Cup in North America.

During the match, France unfortunately failed to deploy what had been their defining characteristic throughout the 2026 World Cup: a relentless, high-powered attack. Instead, Spain capitalized on their own elite defensive structure, doing more than enough to grind out a victory that has now cast a massive cloud of doubt over Didier Deschamps’ future with the French national team.

Now, Spain shift into wait-and-see mode, already knowing the date and location of their date with destiny against the winner of the England-Argentina semifinal as they look to sew a coveted second star above the crest on their jersey.

Following the final whistle, a proud Spain manager Luis de la Fuente boldly declared that his squad is ‘the best in the world,’ a claim that, at least on this night, was hard to argue. Of course, in a sport where anything can happen on any given day, the ultimate proof still lies ahead in the final.

France’s next challenge

While the world fixates on the championship game, the French side must quickly regroup to play for a podium finish in the World Cup third-place match. Les Bleus already know when and where they will take the field against the loser of the Argentina-England semifinal clash.

Beyond the bronze-medal match, France will pivot their focus to the upcoming UEFA Nations League, a tournament currently ruled by Portugal, who coincidentally fell to this same Spanish side in the round of 16.

Ultimately, France will leave North America with more than just a potential third-place medal, having secured a substantial financial payout for their deep tournament run. Now, it is time to look to the future, as this squad proved they have the raw talent to dominate the international stage if they can refine and modernize key aspects of their game.

Prior to the 2026 World Cup, Didier Deschamps confirmed he would step down as head coach of France regardless of the team’s tournament finish. Although Les Bleus’ dream of a World Cup title has come to an end, Deschamps still has the opportunity to guide his side to a bronze medal in Saturday’s third-place match.

Spain, who now await for a rival in the grand final, secured their victory over France through goals by Mikel Oyarzabal and Pedro Porro. Now, the French side awaits the loser of the England vs. Argentina semifinal to determine its opponent for the third-place play-off.

Who will replace Didier Deschamps as France manager?

France fell short of securing another World Cup crown in 2026. Despite boasting one of the most talented rosters in recent international football history, Les Bleus were unable to unlock a resolute Spanish side.

Following the semifinal defeat, attention has quickly turned to who will succeed Deschamps. Les Bleus require a world-class manager to lead an exceptionally talented young core, and a legendary figure is already waiting in the wings.

According to reports from ESPN, Zinedine Zidane, who saw his son Luca playing in the 2026 World Cup, is the prime candidate to succeed Didier Deschamps. The former Real Madrid boss reportedly reached a verbal agreement with the French Football Federation (FFF) to take the reins of the national team following the World Cup.

Zinedine Zidane would face his biggest managerial test

While managing Real Madrid comes with immense pressure, taking charge of the national team would represent a unique hurdle for Zinedine Zidane, who recently was eclipsed by Jude Bellingham in World Cup goals. Expectations surrounding the French squad are sky-high, given a star-studded roster featuring key players competing across Europe’s top leagues.

Zizou amassed 11 trophies during his managerial stints at Real Madrid, including three consecutive UEFA Champions League titles. With France, his primary objectives would be guiding the nation through UEFA Euro 2028 and launching a title charge at the 2030 FIFA World Cup.

Ligue 1 houses eight players, while the Premier League features seven, making them the two leagues with the most representatives in France’s squad. The remaining players are spread across Spain, Italy, Germany, Saudi Arabia, and Turkiye.

Undoubtedly, Kylian Mbappe has stood out above the rest, remaining firmly in the race for the Golden Boot. Les Bleus are aiming to reach their third consecutive World Cup Final.

The french wall

Mike Maignan’s statistics at this World Cup justify his role as the undisputed leader. The AC Milan goalkeeper has conceded just two goals throughout the competition, keeping a clean sheet in all of his other appearances.

• Mike Maignan, AC Milan (Italy)
• Brice Samba, Rennes (France)
• Robin Riser, Lens (France)

Les Bleus’ defenders

Didier Deschamps selected several defenders from different clubs, looking for a balance between youth and experience. So far, the strategy has paid off, as he has found defensive solidity from midfield to the back line.

• Malo Gusto, Chelsea (England)
• Jules Kounde, Barcelona (Spain)
• Ibrahima Konate, Real Madrid (Spain)
• William Saliba, Arsenal (England)
• Dayot Upamecano, Bayern Munich (Germany)
• Lucas Hernandez, PSG (France)
• Lucas Digne, Aston Villa (England)
• Theo Hernandez, Al-Hilal (Saudi Arabia)
• Maxence Lacroix, Crystal Palace (England)

The midfield, a place of transition

France’s offensive potential and clinical finishing are well known, but everything begins in midfield. There, Deschamps relies on a direct style of play that often ends with the ball finding the back of the opponent’s net.

• Adrien Rabiot, AC Milan (Italy)
• Aurelien Tchouameni, Real Madrid (Spain)
• N’Golo Kante, Fenerbahce (Turkiye)
• Warren Zaire-Emery, PSG (France)
• Manu Kone, AS Roma (Italy)
• Maghnes Akliouche, Monaco (France)

France’s greatest strength

France have scored 16 goals so far at the World Cup, ranking among the highest-scoring teams in the tournament. Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele have been two of the key figures behind the team’s attacking success.

• Kylian Mbappe, Real Madrid (Spain)
• Ousmane Dembele, PSG (France)
• Michael Olise, Bayern Munich (Germany)
• Desire Doue, PSG (France)
• Bradley Barcola, PSG (France)
• Marcus Thuram, Inter Milan (Italy)
• Rayan Cherki, Manchester City (England)
• Jean-Philippe Mateta, Crystal Palace (England)

“We know Spain well. They are the reigning European champions, and we faced them in the Nations League semifinal last summer as well… We were considered the favorites before the World Cup, but Spain are the favorites,” the manager said while traveling on the plane to his next destination.

He also added: “That puts more pressure on them because of everything they’ve achieved, even though they lost the Nations League final to Portugal. But they’re a very good team with many strengths. Above all, though, this is the first World Cup semifinal, and the level is already extremely high.“

The head-to-head between these two powerhouses will see them face each other for only the second time in World Cup history. Will Deschamps’ prediction come true, or can his team reach a third consecutive World Cup final?

Are Spain the true favorites against France?

The parity between these two teams has never been more evident. France arrive with an unprecedented attacking force, with Kylian Mbappe battling Lionel Messi for the Golden Boot, neck and neck. Spain, meanwhile, continue to display overwhelming dominance in possession and control of the game.

Many predict a match that might be decided by fine margins, while some even anticipate a penalty shootout. The truth is that France do not want to take on the role of favorites at the moment, which means La Roja could be considered the favorite based on Deschamps’ words.

The build-up has heated up

Spain and France know each other well, having faced off several times in the UEFA Nations League and the European Championship. Lamine Yamal has already warned Les Bleus that they should fear them, while Pau Cubarsi said that Kylian Mbappe doesn’t scare him.

On the French side, the intention is to tone down the hype surrounding these statements. Ibrahima Konate, one of the voices who spoke on the matter, emphasized the importance of staying humble and doing all the talking on the pitch.

For a place in the final

The 2026 World Cup semifinal bracket has finally determined that Spain, France, Argentina, and England will compete for a place in the final. The first two will face off on Tuesday at 3 PM ET in Dallas, while the second semifinal will be played in Atlanta at the same time on Wednesday.

The decisive match will take place next Sunday, July 19. The venue will be the New York New Jersey Stadium, where an unprecedented celebration is expected, and kickoff is scheduled for 3 PM ET.

According to L’Equipe’s Damien Degorre and Loïc Tanzi, Tchouameni has fully recovered from an adductor injury. While Kone filled in admirably, Deschamps ultimately prefers the experience and reliability of his trusted starter.

With only a day left before France takes the pitch, the lineup shift could force Spain to adjust its strategy. The tactical move adds another layer of drama to a matchup already heating up after Pau Cubarsi boldly claimed he isn’t afraid of Kylian Mbappe.

Tchouameni the best option to play against Spain

Tchouameni brings a level of tactical discipline and defensive coverage that France desperately needs for semifinal matchup. Replacing Kone in the starting eleven gives the midfield a massive boost in structural stability, allowing the team to disrupt Spain’s quick, interior passing lanes.

His physical dominance and calm distribution mean he can weather the initial Spanish press while effectively jump-starting counterattacks for the forwards. It is a necessary tactical adjustment that gives the French squad the best possible balance to control the tempo.

Even with Tchouameni taking the starting spot, keeping Kone on the bench gives France an incredibly reliable safety net if things don’t go according to plan. Whether Tchouameni struggles to find his rhythm, picks up an early yellow card, or suffers an unexpected injury, Kone offers an alternative who can plug right back into the midfield.

Deschamps’ first reaction to Mbappe’s substitution, according to Bein Sports: “With Kylian, it was a bit of his ankle; he was feeling a bit of pain. Manu took a blow to the knee—it’s normal; the matches are coming thick and fast. It’s good for Warren, though I can’t please everyone.”

“I imagine there is a lot of fervor in France; here, we are a bit in our own bubble,” Deschamps added. “We are passing another milestone today, finding ourselves in the final four once again… it means we are right where we belong!” Mbappe was substituted in the 77th minute for Jean Mateta.

Mbappe injury update

Beyond the words of Deschamps, Mbappe provided his own injury update, bringing calm to anxious fans. He made it clear that it is nothing serious or anything to worry about, adding that exiting the pitch was the right decision for both himself and the team during the final stage of the match.

“I’m okay, I took a blow to the ankle but I’m fine,” Mbappe said. “At that moment, JP (Mateta) was better suited than I was to play the final 15 minutes, so I came off and he came on. It’s good, plus he almost scored.”

What is next for France?

France secured their third consecutive World Cup semifinal appearance, a streak that began in 2018 when they were crowned champions. They are now just one match away from reaching three straight finals, a tremendous statistic in a World Cup. The milestone also extends to Kylian Mbappe, who remains one of their key figures with 8 goals already scored in this edition.

France await their opponent, as Spain and Belgium will play in the quarterfinals to determine who advances. The semifinal match is scheduled for Tuesday, July 14, 2026, at 3:00 PM ET at Dallas Stadium, a matchup where the men led by Deschamps enter as favorites.

With Michael Olise walking a disciplinary tightrope due to his yellow card, France needs every available weapon for a crucial game against Morocco. Tchouameni didn’t feature in the starting lineup against Paraguay, but he may be ready to face the African side on Thursday.

Didier Deschamps, manager of France, revealed that the Real Madrid midfielder is feeling better of his thigh injury and could feature in the game against Morocco, though it remains uncertain whether he will start or come off the bench.

“Aurelien is better, but I left early this morning. He’s the only one who needs to be seen, but he’s doing better. He might participate in the training session today,” Deschamps said on Wednesday.

Morocco seeks revenge against France

In the head-to-head between France and Morocco, the European side has historically held the upper hand. Adding to this, Les Bleus share recent World Cup history with the Atlas Lions following their high-stakes encounter four years ago.

In Qatar 2022, France and Morocco met in the semifinals. Les Bleus secured a 2-0 victory in regulation time to eliminate Morocco and advance to the grand final, leaving the Atlas Lions with unfinished business.

Now, Morocco seeks revenge. While it is a different stage of the tournament, the Atlas Lions want to be the ones advancing this time, although the disparity in squad market values leaves many believing Les Bleus are once again the favorites to win.

Will Aurelien Tchouameni leave Real Madrid after the 2026 World Cup?

Despite reports suggesting Aurelien Tchouameni could leave Real Madrid after the 2026 World Cup, all signs point to the midfielder remaining in Spain for several more years.

Real Madrid insider Pepe Alvarez reported that the club is set to offer Tchouameni a new contract that would run through the 2031 season. Manchester United was reportedly interested in signing him, yet the cost was deemed too high, forcing the English side to step back from the race.

However, France national team head coach Didier Deschamps came to his countryman’s rescue with a powerful statement, which also served as a warning to the referee for Les Bleus‘ upcoming quarterfinal against Morocco at the 2026 World Cup.

“I hope the referee will be as good as Mr. Letexier and his assistants like in the match of Argentina and Egypt. My opponent is Morocco, not the referee,” Deschamps had to say about the officiating buzz at the 2026 World Cup during a press conference, via RMC Sport.

Who will officiate France vs Morocco?

Argentine Facundo Tello will be the match official when France and Morocco go head to head for a spot in the semifinals of the 2026 World Cup. Tello will be joined by fellow Argentines Juan Pablo Bellati and Gabriel Chade on the touchlines, as well as Dario Herrera (fourth official) and Cristian Navarro (reserve assistant referee).

With all five officials being Argentinians, it will be the first game at the 2026 World Cup to feature an on-field officiating crew from one country. Considering the recent rivalry between Argentina and France—dating back to the 2022 World Cup final—there is speculation surrounding the officiating decision.

In the VAR booth, Hernan Mastrangelo (from Argentina, as well) will be in charge, though joined by AVAR Leodan Gonzalez (Uruguay), SVAR Tatiana Guzman (Nicaragua), SBVAR Abdullah Alshehri (Saudi Arabia), and SBAVAR Mohammed Obaid Khadim (United Arab Emirates).

France take on Morocco

A deep dive into the designated crew helps explain why Deschamps said what he did about the refereeing. There were similar concerns about Letexier officiating Argentina’s game, but he handled it very well. If anything, Egypt were left with more to complain about than Argentina. Who knows? Maybe something similar happens when Les Bleus and the Atlas Lions collide at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.

Assistant Guy Stephan will step in as acting head coach for a game that will decide the winner of Group I. Deschamps’ absence is unrelated to tactics, suspension or any issue involving the French squad.

The veteran manager returned to France earlier this week after the death of his mother and is attending her funeral, a decision supported by the French Football Federation. The country has already secured its place in the Round of 32.

When will Didier Deschamps return to the France bench?

Didier Deschamps is expected to return to the France bench for the Round of 32,provided France advances as expected from Group I.

The French Football Federation confirmed that the veteran coach traveled back to France to attend his mother’s funeral and will miss only the group-stage finale against Norway, with assistant Guy Stephan taking charge in his absence.

He is expected to rejoin the squad by late Friday or early Saturday. That timeline would allow him to oversee preparations for France’s first knockout match, assuming Les Bleus complete their group-stage campaign as planned.

France entered the Norway match having already secured qualification for the Round of 32 thanks to victories over Senegal and Iraq. The only objective remaining was to finish first in Group I.

Several French players, including Aurelien Tchouameni, acknowledged the emotional impact of their coach’s absence and said the squad was determined to honor him with a strong performance.

Has Didier Deschamps ever missed a France match before?

No! Didier Deschamps has never previously missed a France match as head coach for personal reasons, making his absence against Norway an extraordinary and unprecedented moment in his tenure.

He has been France’s head coach since 2012 and has overseen more than 150 international matches across major tournaments, including three FIFA World Cups and multiple UEFA European Championships.

Throughout that period, he has been a constant presence on the touchline, helping France win the 2018 World Cup and reach the finals of both Euro 2016 and the 2022 World Cup.

His absence stands out as one of the rare occasions in which Les Bleus have played without their longtime manager. Guy Stephan, Deschamps’ trusted deputy for more than a decade, assumed full coaching responsibilities.

Despite the unusual circumstances, the French camp emphasized that the coaching staff and players remained fully focused on the task at hand while offering their support to him and his family during a difficult personal moment.