There will be no fifth World Cup final for France, after having been in the last two consecutively (Russia 2018, Qatar 2022). The first team in the FIFA ranking, the one that had displayed the best play in the tournament in the USA, Mexico, and Canada, was a caricature in the hands of Spain. The Bleus never performed at the level they had shown, not even close, defeated in all lines by De la Fuente’s players.
Read more The notes of Spain’s triumph in the semifinals against France
4) Erratic
Maignan
The Milan goalkeeper did not have a bright day. In his few interventions, he did not provide any security, as in Spain’s best offensive play, by Fabián Ruiz (37th minute), born from a bad clearance by him.
4) Expeditious
Koundé
The blaugrana full-back of the Bleus had an intense duel with Álex Baena from which sparks flew. Jules covered his flank well, marking territory with a couple of clashes with the Atlético player. He barely managed to contribute in attack.
s.c.) Injured
Saliba
The Arsenal center-back, one of the defensive pillars of the French team, had the misfortune of breaking down in the 28th minute after a jog in a defensive balance. The defender had barely intervened in the game, beyond his intimidating presence with his 1.92m height.
4) Shrunk
Upamecano
The Bayern center-back was supposed to be France’s great defensive bastion and lost all duels, with Olmo, with Baena, with Oyarzabal, and with Ferran Torres. He started showing aerial power and even pressed in the Spanish area like a forward, but he declined and ended up being a caricature of the center-back he has been this year.
3) Naive
Lucas Digne
The left-back, new signing of PSG by Luis Enrique, was exposed by the naive penalty for a big foul on Lamine Yamal. The former blaugrana defender swung his leg to clear a ball while turning around, without looking or realizing that the winger was arriving, who skillfully entered his space and took the kick inside the area: penalty. Digne never recovered in his duel with Lamine.
4) Nonexistent
Tchouaméni
The Real Madrid midfielder was chosen by Deschamps for the dirty work in the double pivot alongside Rabiot. With his physical deployment, he was supposed to be indispensable to provide solidity and defensive balance, but he was not seen. He succumbed to Fabián Ruiz and Rodri in the midfield battle, and did not contribute recoveries or pressure.
4) Conditioned
Rabiot
The Juventus midfielder was supposed to provide clarity and dynamism in distribution and play creation, freed from the dirty work by Tchouaméni. However, Adrien committed an unnecessary foul for stepping on Olmo that cost him a yellow card at 8 minutes and conditioned his play in the double pivot. Deschamps substituted him at halftime to avoid being one player down.
5) Willing
Dembélé
The shiny Ballon d’Or was France’s most incisive player. The Mosquito pressed high on the Spanish defense’s ball exit, danced with Cucurella in an intense duel, launched venomous counterattacks, delivered crosses and a couple of shots, but without much accuracy or luck. He ended up diluted in his team’s mediocrity.
Read more De la Fuente: “France faced the best team in the world”
3) Absent
Olise
The fashionable forward in Europe was a poor copy of the star he has been at Bayern. Distracted, absent, always late and contributed nothing. He delivered a hard tackle on Rodri, without a card (14th minute) that would have deserved a booking.
4) Powerless
Barcola
The young Paris Saint-Germain winger, the other novelty in Deschamps’ starting eleven alongside Tchouaméni, had won the battle against his teammate Désiré Doué and ended up substituted by him, powerless in his duel with Pedro Porro. The Spanish full-back won the battle, he could never get past him and did not show his electric PSG football.
2) Unworthy
Mbappé
France’s great offensive reference delivered a sad performance, unworthy of his stature. The Real Madrid forward started intimidating with his speed reaching Unai Simón’s area, but only took one shot on goal (deflected by Cucurella, in the 66th), repeatedly fell into offside, and ended up frustrated, mired in dirty and unsportsmanlike play – the foul on Unai Simón at the end was ugly – and hiding to avoid greeting the opponent at the end of the match. Unbecoming of a player of his caliber.
The substitutes
Also played
LACROIX
3 Irrelevant. He replaced Saliba, injured in the 29th. He occupied the left side of the defensive axis discreetly. He looked out of place. His contribution was irrelevant, always running backwards.
KONÉ
3 Clumsy. After the break, he came on for Rabiot, who had a yellow card. The Roma defensive midfielder, without creative skills, did not provide play or order to the team.
THÉO HERNÁNDEZ
2 Excessive. He replaced Digne at left-back and was only seen being rough against the Spaniards. Lamine Yamal suffered it.
DOUÉ
3 Harmless. He came on for his PSG teammate Barcola, trying to be the game-changer, but wasted an open goal shot that could have meant 1-1.
CHERKI
S.C. Trivial. The City midfielder replaced a faded Olise and could hardly contribute anything.
Read more Spain takes the Bastille and stands in the World Cup final
