France eliminated from World Cup semifinals after 2-0 loss to Spain
France was eliminated from the 2026 FIFA World Cup semifinals after a 2-0 defeat to Spain. This loss ended Les Bleus’ hopes of reaching the final for the third consecutive time and securing a third World Cup title. The match saw Kylian Mbappé’s World Cup campaign conclude, marking the third consecutive tournament where he did not score in a semifinal match.
Despite the team’s exit, Mbappé holds the record as the all-time leading scorer in World Cup finals with four goals. These include one against Croatia in Russia 2018 and three against Argentina in Qatar 2022. This achievement places him ahead of other notable players who scored three goals in World Cup finals.
Mbappé’s semifinal scoring drought continues
Kylian Mbappé has now participated in three World Cup tournaments, accumulating 20 goals, making him the second-highest scorer in World Cup history, behind Lionel Messi. However, none of his 20 World Cup goals have been scored in a semifinal match. This pattern continued in the 2026 tournament, where he started against Spain but did not score.
In Russia 2018, France won 1-0 against Belgium, with Samuel Umtiti scoring the winning goal, while Mbappé remained scoreless. Four years later, at Qatar 2022, Les Bleus defeated Morocco 2-0 with goals from Théo Hernández and Randal Kolo Muani, and Mbappé again did not score. The recent defeat to Spain confirms this trend for the third consecutive World Cup.
Outside of the semifinals, Mbappé has consistently found the net across various stages of the competition. His first World Cup goal was scored in the group stage of Russia 2018 against Peru. In Qatar 2022, he scored against Australia, netted two goals against Denmark, another two against Poland in the Round of 16, and a hat trick in the final against Argentina.
During the 2026 tournament, Mbappé maintained his scoring form with two goals against Senegal, one against Iraq, two against Sweden in the Round of 32, the winning goal against Paraguay in the Round of 16, and his first World Cup quarterfinal goal against Morocco.
Media reaction to France’s elimination
The performance of the French team in the semifinal drew significant criticism from local media outlets. The French sports daily L’Équipe used the headline “The Collapse in Dallas,” stating that Spain dominated the match and deserved to qualify for the final. The publication noted that France struggled to keep pace with their opponent throughout the game.
Foot Mercato, another French publication, headlined its report “Spain eliminates a lackluster France in Deschamps’ final match.” It highlighted Spain’s early dominance and the offensive struggles of Didier Deschamps’ squad. Radio Monte Carlo described the team’s exit as “a cruel end to the dream in America,” emphasizing that the semifinal loss dashed France’s hopes of adding a third star to its record, following a performance that did not meet expectations.
Meanwhile, Ousmane Dembélé, who scored five goals in seven matches, was part of the French team that failed to advance. His World Cup journey ended earlier than anticipated following the defeat to Spain.
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Source: marca.com
