Arlington: Kylian Mbappe lamented the abrupt conclusion of France's World Cup campaign on Tuesday, pointing to tactical and technical failures following his team's 2-0 semi-final defeat to Spain.

The 27-year-old French captain had been one of the standout performers of the tournament, netting eight goals to spearhead a dynamic, high-scoring attack. However, his aspirations of reaching a third consecutive World Cup final were shattered as Spain dominated Les Bleus at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Speaking to French broadcaster M6, the Real Madrid superstar did not hide the weight of the defeat.
"I don't think we played the match we wanted to play -- whether tactically, technically, or in terms of our overall performance level," Mbappe said.
"And when you don't do what you're supposed to do in a World Cup semi-final, you don't win," the Real Madrid star added.

Tactical shortcomings in midfield

Mbappe explained that France’s primary game plan failed to materialize, allowing Spain to dictate the tempo of the match.
"Our goal was to press them high up the pitch to prevent them from settling into that slow, controlled rhythm -- because when it comes to controlling the game, they are better than us. We failed to do that."

The forward specifically highlighted the central battleground as the turning point. France's midfield pairing of Adrien Rabiot and Aurelien Tchouameni was quickly overwhelmed by Spain's trio of Rodri, Dani Olmo, and Fabian Ruiz.
"We kept finding ourselves outnumbered 3-on-2 in midfield," Mbappe said. "And against Spain, that's a real problem...When you put it all together, the result is a defeat. It's a huge disappointment."

Also read: Why was Yamal Spain's biggest difference-maker against France?

Moving forward

Despite the heartbreak, the French captain emphasized the importance of resilience and dignity in the face of defeat as the squad processes the loss.
"It was a dream for us to reach the final, to give our country the chance to keep dreaming and to make history," he said.
"Now, it is something we have to face with our heads held high. I believe that when you win, you win with your head held high; so when you lose, you have to lose with your head held high, too.

Also read: ‘Everyone remembers that game and Diego's performance': Lionel Scaloni rolls back years

"But right now, there is immense disappointment. I find it hard to put into words just how disappointed the squad and I are.
"Yet even if it might seem a bit robotic at times, we have to pick ourselves up, go on vacation, and move on to the next chapter. Because football waits for no one. We have to start over, put this failure behind us, and learn from it." (AFP)