The French media delivered a frank assessment of the national team on Wednesday morning after their World Cup semi-final exit to Spain.
France were below their usual high standards as they were beaten 2-0 in Dallas by the European champions. Mikel Oyarzabal's first-half penalty was backed up by Pedro Porro's second-half strike, a France's much-vaunted front four fell flat.
L'Equipe ran with an image of a forlorn Kylian Mbappe and the headline of "Fallen star" - adding the team were "powerless" to stopping Spain.
The paper also published their brutal player ratings, with some big stars given some low scores. No player was given above a 5/10.
Lucas Digne was given 2/10 for his role in giving away the Spain penalty, but Ousmane Dembele and Michael Olise also got the same score after ineffective displays in attack.
Kylian Mbappe was given a 3/10 - along with France head coach Didier Deschamps, who takes charge of his final match in charge of the national team in Saturday's third-place play-off.
Le Parisien went with the headline "Rude awakening" - saying the team "never found the key to break down the Spanish Armada".
Corse Martin went for the Spanish word for "disappointment" on their front page - adding Didier Deschamps' side were "outclassed" by their opponents.
Le Figaro said Spain "taught France a lesson" while Ouest France described the loss as the "end of the American dream".
Every single France paper went with a disappointed look of Kylian Mbappe as their front page picture.
'We lost to ourselves' - how the team reacted
France midfielder Rayan Cherki:
"It's a huge disappointment, huge because today we lost to ourselves. We didn't lose to the referee, we didn't lose to Spain, we lost to ourselves. Here, you all know, we all know we were a force to be reckoned with. The only team capable of eliminating us was ourselves, and today that's exactly what happened."
France head coach Didier Deschamps:
"The Spanish team is a strong one. It is tough and proved their skills today. We were below our standard, we committed more technical flaws than before. And even though I believed the entire would recover, they did not. I have really skilled and top-notch players on the bench, but William Saliba got injured, Adrien Rabiot was at risk because of the yellow card.
"It is mainly due to that - and we know the skills of the Spanish team. And to hope for victory, we should have been at our maximum and given it all and we did not, unfortunately. Therefore, we are extremely disappointed tonight. And the first part is the important one - some decisions were questionable."
noscmrtuz
0
Why is FIFA helping Argentina Messi and Spain. They should stop helping them and let them play there games. Like yesterday that penalty given against France was the problem. That’s not a penalty he’s trying to kick the ball and yamal threw his body up in the here it should have been a fair play.
every foul in the penalty area is not intentional but either intentional or not foul is foul. plus you are talking about the greatest player of all time Messi, dude I don't think you know about football, Messi he doesn't need any help from FIFA, he proof himself year after year. don't be a hater
siebiklr
0
Why is FIFA helping Argentina Messi and Spain. They should stop helping them and let them play there games. Like yesterday that penalty given against France was the problem. That’s not a penalty he’s trying to kick the ball and yamal threw his body up in the here it should have been a fair play.
Keep crying🤣🤣
poediklmru
0
Why is FIFA helping Argentina Messi and Spain. They should stop helping them and let them play there games. Like yesterday that penalty given against France was the problem. That’s not a penalty he’s trying to kick the ball and yamal threw his body up in the here it should have been a fair play.
poediklmru
1
All I know is that England will play against FIFA , VAR , referees Messi,Argentina , Barcelona tonight
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That’s just the problem people will not admit
Fauzsmail
0
France without count atark they can't score what they si to run with ball only
Fauzsmail
1
France said they have Olise and Mbappe and many stars but they kept pushing Yamal
Rawanopsuz
0
Tchoumeni is the reason France eliminated yesterday
BernardLim
2
All I know is that England will play against FIFA , VAR , referees Messi,Argentina , Barcelona tonight
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I hope you are right.
SGTSingam
3
the French team were Fried and became French Fries 🍟🍟😂😜
truthisbitter
2
All I know is that England will play against FIFA , VAR , referees Messi,Argentina , Barcelona tonight
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sheep, continue sheepish!
Liwaklmnos
1
Football no be talk
fikadlmstz
3
A hatrick of defeats for French. By Spaniards. What a huge humiliation it was!!!
Wuwbcinpz
2
All I know is that England will play against FIFA , VAR , referees Messi,Argentina , Barcelona tonight
kaeabelnu
2
Do not blame France too much, LA Roja was something else. Cucurella, Rodri, Olmo, Cubasi, Pedro Porro, Oyazabal.... demn they were good.
joabcmpsuy
1
very good happy wen France lost
Zicbcilor
0
boucdert
4
Which standards are they talking about. The kick and run football suited for Mbappe to outsprint defenders. That's not good football. Hope the Spanish lessons was detailed enough.