Paris, France – France were eliminated from the 2026 World Cup in the semi-finals after losing 2-0 to Spain. This defeat dashed their hopes of reaching the final for the third consecutive time and winning their third World Cup title.
The French performance drew widespread criticism in the local media, which described the loss as a disappointing end to the French team’s run in the tournament.
L’Equipe
The French sports daily L’Équipe chose the headline “The Collapse in Dallas,” asserting that Spain completely dominated the match and deservedly qualified for the final. The paper maintained that France was unable to keep pace with its opponent at any point in the game.
Foot Mercato
For its part, Foot Mercato headlined its report: “Spain eliminates a lackluster France in Deschamps’ final match.” It noted that the Spanish team asserted its dominance from the outset, while Didier Deschamps’ squad failed to make a difference offensively.
Radio Monte Carlo
Radio Monte Carlo described the exit as “a cruel end to the dream in America.” It asserted that the semi-final loss had dashed France’s hopes of adding a third star to its record, following a performance that fell far short of expectations.
