France head coach Didier Deschamps admitted his players were deeply disappointed after their 2 to 0 defeat to Spain in the semi finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, while also questioning some of the decisions made by referee Ivan Barton.
The French manager spoke after the match at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, where Spain produced an impressive performance to end France’s hopes of winning a third World Cup title.
France had entered the semi final as one of the tournament’s most exciting teams, scoring 16 goals in six matches and earning praise for their attacking style of play. However, they were unable to match Spain’s control and quality on the night.
Reacting to the defeat, Deschamps said the result was painful for both him and his players, who had entered the tournament with high expectations.
According to him, the French squad was devastated by the loss but had to accept that Spain were the better side on the day, particularly in terms of technical quality and control of the game.
Despite expressing his disappointment, the outgoing coach insisted he was not looking to place the blame on anyone else, acknowledging that his team fell short when it mattered most.
Deschamps, however, raised concerns about the performance of referee Ivan Barton of El Salvador, who awarded Spain an early penalty after Lucas Digne brought down Lamine Yamal inside the box.
While stopping short of directly criticising the official, the France coach questioned whether the referee met the standard expected for a World Cup semi final. He noted that several decisions during the match caught his attention, although he admitted that some calls also went in France’s favour.
Deschamps did not provide further details on the incidents but maintained that his comments were not solely influenced by the outcome of the match.
