England’s 6-4 demolition of France in the World Cup third-place play-off sent shockwaves through the French media, with critics delivering one of the harshest post-match verdicts in recent memory. On a chaotic night in Miami, England stormed to a 4-0 halftime lead before sealing victory, powered by a Bukayo Saka hat-trick and goals from Declan Rice, Ezri Konsa, and Jude Bellingham. The result not only exposed France’s defensive frailties but also prompted scathing assessments that spared no one in blue.
L’Equipe, notorious for its unforgiving player ratings, was merciless in its analysis. Five French players received a damning score of 2/10: Malo Gusto, Ibrahima Konate, Theo Hernandez, Rayan Cherki, and Desire Doue. The outlet described the match as unprecedented, stating, “Never before had the French team witnessed such contradictory and bizarre acts, so equally unfathomable, both in their vertiginous fall and their subsequent comeback. And so, Les Bleus managed to write an unprecedented chapter in history and achieve something extraordinary with a match that, in their eyes, hadn’t even mattered an hour earlier.”
The French backline bore the brunt of the criticism. Gusto, Konate, and Hernandez were singled out for catastrophic defending in the first half, with Maxence Lacroix and goalkeeper Mike Maignan also receiving poor marks. L’Equipe’s withering summary underscored the magnitude of France conceding six goals in a single match for the first time this century.
RMC Sport echoed the sentiment, delivering similarly tough ratings. Gusto, Hernandez, and Cherki again received 2/10, while Dayot Upamecano, a defensive substitute, was highlighted as the one bright spot. Their assessment of Gusto was particularly scalding: “The Chelsea right-back left wide open spaces for the English attackers and showed no desire to track back defensively. He even jogged back on England’s third goal… He took advantage of the Blues' improved performance in the second half to showcase his attacking qualities but conceded a penalty late in the game, a fitting symbol of his defensive limitations.”
France Info acknowledged the team’s spirited second-half fightback, which saw Kylian Mbappe strike twice and Bradley Barcola add another, nearly bringing Les Bleus level. However, the outlet made clear the damage had been inflicted early: “Didier Deschamps nearly ended his 14-year tenure as manager of the French national team in utter disaster, abandoned by his players. Trailing 4-0 at half-time against England, they finally shook off their insolent apathy to avoid a historic humiliation. The French team was transformed offensively after the four substitutions made at the break, but failed to address its defensive frailties. They ultimately lost by a more forgiving margin, by the unreal score of 6-4.”
Foot Mercato reserved its sharpest barbs for Konate, who is set to join Real Madrid after departing Liverpool. The defender was lambasted for his inability to contain the English attack: “Deployed at the heart of the French defence, Ibrahima Konate struggled against the speed and combinations of the English attack during the first half. Too often caught out of position and late to receive through balls, he failed to plug the gaping holes left by his full-backs or impose his physical presence in duels. Out of position, he offered little reassurance and was one of the main culprits for the four goals conceded in the first half.”
Theo Hernandez was also condemned for his “defensive nightmare,” with Foot Mercato highlighting his inability to cope with Saka’s relentless runs and his lack of discipline and precision both defensively and going forward.
The overwhelming consensus among the French press was clear: England’s rampant attack brutally exposed France’s structural weaknesses, and the post-match inquest has left no doubt about the scale of the crisis facing Les Bleus after this humiliating defeat.
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