Kylian Mbappe, a shadow of his World Cup brilliance, took full responsibility for France’s disappointing exit from EURO 2024 after a 2-1 defeat to Spain in the semi-final. The 25-year-old captain admitted his side simply “didn’t do enough” and conceded that Spain were the deserved victors.
“We didn’t live up to expectations,” Mbappe said bluntly to reporters. “Spain played better than us, they wanted it more,and they’re going to the final. We’re going home empty-handed.”
While Mbappe did manage to assist Randal Kolo Muani’s early opener, his overall performance was far from the electrifying displays that propelled France to the World Cup final just last year. He failed to replicate his goalscoring prowess, with his only goal in the tournament coming from the penalty spot – a stark contrast to his eight goals in Qatar.
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The turning point of the match, and perhaps Mbappe’s most agonizing moment, came late in the second half. He found himself in a one-on-one situation with Spanish goalkeeper Unai Simon, a golden opportunity to equalize. However, his shot soared over the bar, summing up France’s overall lack of cutting edge throughout the tournament.
“I had the chance to level the score,” Mbappe acknowledged, the disappointment evident in his voice. “I thought for sure I’d score at least put it on target. But it went over. That’s football, sometimes it’s cruel. 2-1 down, and that’s it, our tournament is over.”
Adding to the frustration, Mbappe revealed his decision to ditch the protective mask he’d worn throughout the tournament due to a broken nose. “I couldn’t see well with it,” he explained. “I spoke to the doctor and told him I was fed up with it.He said the decision was mine to make, and I chose to play without it. No regrets there.”
France’s EURO 2024 campaign ends in a whimper. Mbappe, their talisman, will shoulder much of the blame for their underwhelming performance. The question now lingers: can he rediscover his golden touch and lead Les Bleus to a stronger showing at the next major tournament?
