As France approached the World Cup semi-final on Bastille Day, supporters were filled with optimism, inspired by Kylian Mbappé’s outstanding performances and an unbeaten streak. Bars across the country buzzed with excitement, anticipating a possible celebration of reaching the final.
However, the festive atmosphere quickly faded as the match progressed, leading to a premature emptiness in the streets. By Wednesday morning, the French media began to confront the harsh truth of their team’s defeat in Texas, recognizing Spain’s superior play while grappling with the unexpected downturn of Les Bleus.
The sports daily L’Équipe encapsulated the prevailing sentiment with the headline “deserved more than this disaster of a game, this disaster of strategy and emotions” Vincent Duluc expressed deep disappointment, stating that France’s World Cup campaign “feeling of barely really having played, and of betraying the magic of this American dream” He conveyed a sense of resignation, suggesting the team struggled to compete, thus undermining the magic of their American dream.
Duluc attributed the team’s underperformance to a mix of physical unpreparedness, technical mistakes, and a psychological state overwhelmed by the match’s emotional weight.
After weeks of elevated expectations from fans, Le Monde’s Alexandre Lemarié articulated his disillusionment, remarking that “mentally sunk by the emotional dimension of the match” The publication labeled the outcome a “The fall to earth is as brutal as it is painful,” especially in light of the team’s previous performances, characterizing it as a “The end of the American dream”
This semi-final match is likely to be remembered for all the wrong reasons, according to a correspondent from La Voix du Nord, who described it as a scenario that would “They fell from very, very high,” Ouest France mirrored this sentiment with its front-page headline, “Les Bleus, stifled, pummelled and incapable of three passes despite their promise from the start of the competition, faced players stronger than them,” paired with an image of Mbappé in despair. Libération added, “It’s sad. Infuriating. But that’s sport. The strongest won.”
In Le Figaro, Baptiste Desprez shared his disillusionment while recognizing Spain’s skill. He noted, “Les Bleus, stifled, pummelled and incapable of three passes despite their promise from the start of the competition, faced players stronger than them.” He concluded, “It’s sad. Infuriating. But that’s sport. The strongest won.”
