Football News: Deschamps Criticizes Mbappe’s Euro 2024 Performance
France manager Didier Deschamps did not hold back in his criticism of his players after their Euro 2024 semi-final exit against Spain. Les Blues were beaten 2-1, despite taking the early lead through Randal Kolo Muani.
Kylian Mbappe, who joined Real Madrid this summer, had another difficult night in what was a tough tournament for the star player. He scored just once, a penalty against Poland, and missed several good chances, though a broken nose from the opening game clearly impacted his performances.
“I will not say my players didn’t give their all, but we didn’t play as well as we could for various reasons. Kylian didn’t perform as well as he usually does. I’m not making excuses. We tried to do our best with what we had and tried to be as efficient as possible,” Deschamps admitted after the defeat.
France reached the final of Euro 2016 but lost to Portugal, and at Euro 2020 they were beaten on penalties by Switzerland in the last 16. Deschamps, who has been the France manager since 2012 and led them to World Cup glory in 2018, refused to comment on his future when asked.
The defeat against Spain capped a disappointing Euro 2024 campaign for France, who were among the pre-tournament favorites. Mbappe’s struggles in front of goal were a significant factor in their early exit, and Deschamps was candid in his assessment of the 25-year-old’s performance.
As the focus shifts to the FIFA World Cup in 2026, France will look to regroup and find the form that has made them one of the dominant forces in international football in recent years.
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