Arlington: France’s 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign ended in disappointment following a 2-0 semi-final defeat to Spain at Dallas Stadium. In the aftermath of the match, France head coach Didier Deschamps expressed his frustration, acknowledging that his side were outplayed by a superior Spanish team while also questioning the standard of officiating in such a high-stakes fixture.

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Reflecting on the performance, Deschamps was candid about his team's shortcomings. He noted, "The players are devastated, but we have to be logical—we were second best on a technical level. It’s our own fault." He further explained that France struggled to find their rhythm, stating, "We lacked technical precision and energy," and admitted that Spain's ability to read the game and break up French attacks ultimately stifled their offensive efforts.

However, Deschamps’ critique extended to the officiating of the match, particularly regarding the penalty that allowed Mikel Oyarzabal to open the scoring in the 21st minute. While he acknowledged that there was contact between Lucas Digne and Lamine Yamal, Deschamps questioned why the potential preceding handball by the Spanish winger was not reviewed by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR).

"If I say something, I’ll look like a sore loser because we lost," Deschamps remarked when asked about the referee’s performance. "But I ask you the question of whether the referee has the level required to officiate a semi-final. There is the penalty, but it’s not just that—that’s just on top of it all. I have nothing against tonight’s referee, but ask yourselves that question."

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Despite his grievances with the officiating, Deschamps remained professional, stating, "I don’t want to take anything away from Spain, a really good team which knows how to master its plan."

The result confirms Spain's place in the final, leaving France to reflect on a tournament where they had previously looked defensively imperious, having entered the semi-final without conceding a goal in their knockout-stage matches. For Deschamps and his squad, the focus now shifts to the third-place play-off in Miami.