French professional footballer and captain Kylian Mbappé openly acknowledged the disappointment of France's Euro 2024 campaign after a 2-1 defeat to Spain in the semifinals at the Allianz Arena on Tuesday.
Despite assisting Randal Kolo Muani’s opening goal, France faltered as Spain's Lamine Yamal and Dani Olmo secured victory.
Reflecting on the tournament, where he scored just one goal—a penalty against Poland—Mbappé expressed his candid disappointment: "It was a failure. We aimed to be European champions; I personally aimed for that. We didn't achieve it, so it's a failure."
The tournament had its challenges for Mbappé, who started with a broken nose in the opening match against Austria, sidelining him against the Netherlands.
Despite returning with a protective mask, he opted to play without it against Spain, citing discomfort that affected his vision.
France's coach Didier Deschamps acknowledged the difficulties Mbappé faced with the mask, noting, "Wearing it wasn't easy; it restricted his vision."
Deschamps praised the team's effort despite the setbacks, stating, "We pushed until the end. I can't fault my players for their effort."
Offensively, France struggled, with Kolo Muani’s goal against Spain marking their first from open play in the tournament.
Antoine Griezmann, also under scrutiny, was benched in the critical semifinal match.
Looking forward, Deschamps, with two years remaining on his contract, is expected to guide France into the 2026 World Cup.
Meanwhile, Olivier Giroud, now with Los Angeles FC, likely concluded his international career.
Deschamps commended Giroud's leadership and longevity, saying, "He remains a leader in this group, on and off the pitch."
France now faces the task of regrouping and preparing for future competitions, aiming to bounce back from the disappointments of Euro 2024.
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