Mbappé Blames Tactical Errors as France Fall 0-2 to Spain in World Cup Semi-Final

PARIS — Kylian Mbappé criticised France's tactical setup as "sloppy" after Les Bleus were beaten 0-2 by Spain in the 2026 World Cup semi-final, according to ESPN and Reuters. The result is verified; Spain progressed to the final. Mbappé, speaking after the defeat, admitted France "got the game plan wrong" against Spain, according to Flashscore and Reuters. Spanish midfielder Rodri was credited by ESPN with neutralizing Mbappé and France's attacking threat in a controlled defensive display. French media reacted sharply to the loss. Sky Sports reported that L'Équipe issued scathing player ratings in its post-match coverage, reflecting broad disappointment with the team's performance. The defeat was described by some outlets as France's worst World Cup loss since 2010. Spain's 2-0 victory secured La Roja a place in the tournament final, where they will face the winner of the remaining semi-final tie. Mbappé, despite the loss, set a France World Cup appearance or scoring record during the campaign, according to MSN. The semi-final outcome underscores a wider tactical trend of the 2026 tournament, in which disciplined mid-block defences have repeatedly frustrated possession-heavy favourites. Source: ESPN, 14 Jul 2026; Reuters; Sky Sports; ABC News.