France’s 2-1 defeat to Spain in the Euro 2024 semi-finals, captain Kylian Mbappe candidly acknowledged his team’s shortcomings. The match, held at the Munich Football Arena on July 9, 2024, ended France’s aspirations for the championship, with Mbappe admitting that his side “didn’t do enough” to secure a place in the final.
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Reflecting on the game, Mbappe noted that Spain’s superior performance was evident throughout the match. “They played better than us, they deserved to go to the final and we are going home,” Mbappe told reporters. Despite his contribution to Randal Kolo Muani’s early goal, France struggled to maintain their lead as Spain quickly responded with two goals in quick succession.
Mbappe, who had high hopes of becoming the European champion and having a standout tournament, expressed his personal disappointment. “I had the ambition of becoming European champion. I had the goal of having a good Euros. I did neither. It’s a disappointment,” he said. France’s attacking struggles were apparent, with the team managing only four goals throughout the tournament, a stark contrast to their prolific scoring in the World Cup, where Mbappe alone netted eight goals.
One of the pivotal moments came late in the game when Mbappe had a chance to equalize. After skillfully maneuvering past a defender, he found himself one-on-one with Spain’s goalkeeper Unai Simon but failed to convert, sending the ball over the bar. “I got past the defender and it went well. Afterwards, I thought I just have to score or at the very least get it on target. It went over the bar. That’s the harsh reality of football. 2-1 and we’re going home,” Mbappe lamented.
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Throughout the tournament, Mbappe had been playing with a protective mask due to a broken nose sustained in the opening match against Austria. However, he chose to forgo the mask for the semi-final, citing discomfort. “I couldn’t see well with it. I spoke to the doctor to see if I could play without it,” he explained.
