Didier Deschamps Admits France 'were below our best' As Spain End World Cup Dream

Didier Deschamps admitted France fell short of the standards required to overcome Spain after Les Bleus' World Cup campaign ended in a 2-0 semi-final defeat, insisting his side simply could not match the technical and physical level demanded against Luis de la Fuente's outstanding team.

Mikel Oyarzabal's first-half penalty and another disciplined Spanish display condemned France to a painful exit, with Kylian Mbappé and his teammates unable to break down La Roja's well-organised defence.

Deschamps had no hesitation in acknowledging Spain's superiority.

"Spain are a strong team and they proved it," the France manager said after the match. "We were a little below our level. We made more technical mistakes than we have throughout the tournament."

"To hope for more against a team like Spain, we had to be at our very best, but unfortunately we were below our best."

France attempted to press aggressively from the opening whistle, but misplaced passes and poor execution repeatedly disrupted their rhythm.

Deschamps admitted the magnitude of a World Cup semi-final may have contributed to those mistakes.

"Maybe it was emotional," he said. "But Spain also forced those mistakes because of the way they played."

"For many of these players, this was their first World Cup semi-final. Against a team like Spain, you have to be at the highest technical level and also physically. I am convinced we were not there today."

He felt Spain's intelligent defensive organisation made life even harder.

"They defended very well and left us very little space. When your technical level drops below what you have shown previously, it becomes very difficult to create danger."

While disappointed by the result, Deschamps was careful not to diminish Spain's performance.

Asked why France struggled to control midfield, he praised the way Spain anticipated passes and closed passing lanes.

"They are very good at reading trajectories and intercepting the ball," he explained. "We couldn't find the solutions."

"There is responsibility on our side because we didn't express ourselves offensively as we had done earlier in the tournament, but there is also great merit from the opponent."

"I won't take away everything this team has achieved. But against a side like Spain, you have to produce your very best football. France did not do that tonight."

Deschamps also hinted at frustration with several refereeing decisions but stopped well short of directly criticising the officials.

"The most important thing is what we didn't do well," he said.

However, he later posed a rhetorical question to reporters.

"I won't cry because we lost," Deschamps said. "But did the referee tonight have the level required for a World Cup semi-final? You can answer that if you want. I won't."

When pressed further on the specific incidents, including France's penalty appeal, he refused to elaborate.

"We'll have to look back at the match. There was perhaps the penalty and some other situations, but I won't enter into discussion about that."

The France manager admitted the mood inside the dressing room reflected the magnitude of the missed opportunity.

"The players were devastated," he revealed. "I understand that because this group is full of competitors."

"The ambition was there. When your journey ends at this stage, it hurts."

Despite the disappointment, Deschamps urged perspective after another deep run at a major tournament.

"We have to accept defeat and congratulate Spain. It was a match played at a very high level."

Although this was expected to be one of Deschamps' final tournaments in charge of France, he insisted his own future was not on his mind.

"Now is not the time to speak about that," he said.

"I remain very happy and very proud of everything we have achieved with the French national team."

Reflecting on his tenure, he pointed to France's remarkable consistency on the world stage.

"We reached the World Cup final in 2018, another final four years later, and we have kept France among the very best teams in world football."

"Today is not a happy moment, of course, but you also have to remember everything this team has achieved."

Deschamps also explained his decision to introduce Maxence Lacroix instead of Ibrahima Konaté after William Saliba's injury.

"It was simply a choice," he said. "Konaté usually plays on the right for Liverpool, while Lacroix is comfortable on the left side."

"It followed my logic. It may not be yours, but it was mine."

France will now turn their attention to the third-place play-off, while Spain advance to the World Cup final after a composed display that left even their defeated opponents acknowledging they had been second best.