L'Equipe: Deschamps questioned over replacing Rabiot at halftime in World Cup semifinal

After a 0-2 defeat to Spain in the FIFA World Cup semi-finals, the French team failed to advance beyond the top four, while head coach Deschamps' in-game adjustments also became a focus of public opinion. According to L'Équipe, there were disagreements within the team's locker room over some substitution decisions, especially the decision to replace Rabiot at halftime while continuing to use Tchouameni, which puzzled some players.

In this match, the French team was clearly at a disadvantage in terms of overall rhythm and midfield control. In the final stages, Deschamps made a series of like-for-like substitutions, replacing Barcola with Désiré Doué, Cherki with Olise, and Theo Hernández with Digne. However, the team's tactical system did not change significantly, and the changes failed to turn the tide. By contrast, in the 2022 Qatar FIFA World Cup final, Deschamps helped the team fight back to a 3-3 draw against Argentina by adjusting his tactics, ultimately taking the match to a penalty shootout. His failure to change approach in time in this match also became the focus of external criticism.

After the match, the French team quickly began to reflect internally. Captain Mbappé was the first to highlight the slow midfield play, saying the team lacked effective support in attacking progression. Dembélé also expressed dissatisfaction with his teammates' hesitation in pressing and directly raised his concerns at halftime. Despite the continued external criticism, the French team also maintained a certain degree of restraint internally. Over the past six weeks, Deschamps' coaching performance has generally been recognized, so some players believe it is necessary to view the loss rationally while also strengthening self-reflection.

However, one thing is relatively clear within the team: some players found it difficult to understand the decision to substitute Rabiot early. As one of the most active midfielders in the first half, Rabiot disrupted Spain's ball control with his excellent running and tackling. Deschamps' move was mainly based on risk-control considerations — Rabiot had already received a yellow card and committed a relatively dangerous foul late in the first half, creating a potential risk of being sent off. Even so, this adjustment was still not universally accepted.

At the same time, the midfield configuration became one of the main talking points. Some voices questioned Tchouameni's performance in high-intensity matches, especially as his condition has not fully recovered after suffering an adductor injury. Substitute Koné also became a topic of discussion. Although he performed poorly against Spain and failed to keep up with the pace for the team's second goal conceded, he still has many supporters within the team, and some had originally hoped he would start.

In addition, voices from players' circles also pointed out that Tchouameni, who plays for Real Madrid, did not escape criticism. As the match ends, the French players are about to go on vacation, and the controversy brought about by this defeat may gradually subside. But for Deschamps, the personnel choices and tactical arrangements in this semi-final may continue to provoke reflection for some time to come.

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