France's hopes of clinching the Euro 2024 title were dashed as they suffered a 2-1 defeat to Spain in the semifinals at the Allianz Arena in Munich. Kylian Mbappé, who set up an early lead for France through Randal Kolo Muani, expressed his disappointment at the team's failure to advance to the final.
Mbappé, who scored just one goal in the tournament, acknowledged that it had been a challenging competition for him. His campaign was marred by a broken nose in the opening game against Austria, which forced him to wear a mask in subsequent matches. However, he opted to play without the mask against Spain due to discomfort.
France's struggles in front of goal were evident throughout the tournament, with Kolo Muani's goal against Spain being the first scored from open play by a French player. The team's performance was further scrutinized, with Antoine Griezmann also facing criticism and being dropped from the starting lineup against Spain.
Despite the disappointment, coach Didier Deschamps took responsibility for the team's performance, emphasizing the quality of the Spanish side. Deschamps, who has led France to success in major tournaments in the past, is expected to continue in his role and guide the team to the 2026 World Cup.
Meanwhile, veteran striker Olivier Giroud, who announced his intention to retire from international football after the Euros, made what appears to be his final appearance for France. Deschamps praised Giroud's contribution to the team over the years, highlighting his professionalism and leadership qualities.
As France reflects on their Euro 2024 campaign, they will look to regroup and prepare for future challenges under the guidance of Deschamps and with a new generation of players.
