The elimination of the French national team against Spain in the semi-finals of the 2026 World Cup continues to create strong tensions within the squad. Beaten 2-0, Didier Deschamps’ men delivered a very disappointing performance, notably marked by a completely ineffective pressing game.
Dembouz is devastated. The dream of winning the World Cup has vanished, even though Les Bleus had the means to achieve it. An initial assessment has already been made within the group, according to L’Équipe.
Dembélé frustrated by lack of support in pressing
When analyzing the defeat, Ousmane Dembélé reportedly did not hide his anger. The French forward is said to have struggled with the lack of support from his teammates when trying to disrupt Spain’s build-up play in their own half.
Despite the instructions given by the French staff, the 2025 Ballon d’Or winner reportedly felt too often alone when initiating the press. This situation allowed the Spanish team to play out from the back with ease and control the tempo of the match.
Dembélé also reportedly did not understand why Aymeric Laporte was given so much freedom in possession. The Spanish center-back was regularly able to move forward and find his teammates without facing real pressure from France, highlighting a collective failure that continues to raise questions within the squad.
