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Christophe Dugarry has unleashed a scathing attack on Didier Deschamps and the France national football team following their semi-final defeat to Spain. The former Barcelona striker expressed deep anger and disappointment over what he described as a lifeless and uninspired performance, leaving him feeling utterly let down by the team’s lack of attacking edge and determination during their painful 2026 World Cup exit.

Dugarry fumes over France’s World Cup collapse

After France’s 2-0 defeat to Spain in the 2026 World Cup semi-final on Tuesday, the team has come under heavy fire. Speaking on the 'Rothen s'enflamme' programme on RMC, Dugarry did not hold back while evaluating the performance of Deschamps and his squad.

The 1998 World Cup winner was furious about the manner of the loss, insisting that such a talented squad should have delivered far more. Dugarry said, “It is not a defeat, it is not an elimination, it is a humiliation. We knew we could lose against Spain, that’s acceptable, but not like this. I feel ripped off, scammed, bamboozled, cuckolded…”

‘A disastrous performance on every front’

Dugarry argued that Kylian Mbappe and his teammates fell far short of expectations for a match of this magnitude. He highlighted the glaring contrast between Deschamps’ and the players’ confident pre-match statements and their poor display on the field. Dugarry added, “In the end, we deliver a catastrophic match at all levels, not a single chance created. This match reminded me of the 80 minutes we played against Argentina in 2022. We are supposedly the best and the strongest, and yet we produce such a performance again. And there, you have absolutely no reaction.”

Bleak attacking numbers underline France’s failure

The statistics from the match fully back Dugarry’s damning verdict on France’s lack of attacking threat against La Roja. France failed to create even a single clear scoring opportunity, while Spain managed three. Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele were completely isolated, and France managed just two shots on target across the 90 minutes. Spain dominated possession and dictated the pace, leaving France chasing the ball for much of the contest.

Deschamps expected to resign

Didier Deschamps is anticipated to announce his resignation after the third-place play-off against England, marking the end of his 14-year tenure as France’s head coach. Since taking charge in July 2012, Deschamps guided Les Bleus to the 2018 World Cup title and the 2020–21 UEFA Nations League triumph. With his contract expiring this month, France are set to embark on a new chapter under incoming manager Zinedine Zidane.