France captain Kylian Mbappé admitted his side failed to execute their game plan after their World Cup semi-final defeat to Spain, saying Les Bleus allowed their opponents to control the match.
Mbappé said France had intended to press Spain high and stop them dictating possession but failed to carry out the tactical approach.
“We wanted to stop them controlling the game, but we let their midfield have too much time on the ball. When you do that against a team with that much quality, it becomes very difficult,” he said.
The Real Madrid forward also felt Spain’s second penalty helped swing the momentum before France struggled to respond in the second half.
Reflecting on his own performance, Mbappé accepted full responsibility as captain.
“When you win, you take all the glory. When you lose, you have to take all the criticism. It’s part of my game and part of my life. As captain, I have no problem taking that responsibility,” he said.
Mbappé also paid tribute to outgoing France coach Didier Deschamps, insisting one defeat would not diminish his legacy.
“Nothing changes what Didier Deschamps means to France. He has written an amazing history. We have one game left, and we’ll do everything to win it for him and for our fans,” he added.
France will now face the loser of the England-Argentina semi-final in the third-place playoff.
