Mbappe says France 'took the p***' against England
Kylian Mbappe said France was "taking the piss" in the first half of a wild third-place play-off at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which Les Bleus lost 6-4 having slumped into half-time 4-0 down.
The second half saw Mbappe and his France team roar back, though, the captain himself scoring twice to spark a ferocious comeback that had his side within a goal of the Three Lions by thr 66th minute and looking likely to overturn the scoreline.
But an 87th-minute penalty from Bukayo Saka gave England a two-goal lead again, before Jue Bellingham scored a fifth in stoppage-time to sink France hopes after Ousmane Dembele had scored a fourth two minutes prior.
"In the first half, I can understand those who say we were taking the piss, that we didn't respect the shirt," Mbappe, who now leads Lionel Messi in the race for the golden boot and went top of the all-time FIFA World Cup scoring list, said after the loss.
"I would say instead that we were human. Unfortunately, we were completely stunned. They gave us a proper wake-up call.
"In the second half, we became top-level players again, mental machines who no longer have feelings."
Mbappe sounded smoewhat regretful as he commented on coach Didier Deschamps's last match as France coach after 14 years in charge of the side.
Deschamps led France to the 2018 FIFA World Cup title and 2021 UEFA Nations League crown as well as the UEFA Euro 2016 and 2022 FIFA World Cup finals.
"It's more disappointing for the coach," Mbappe said. "We wanted to do something for him, but unfortunately the first half gave the impression that we had let him down.
"We want to thank the coach for everything he has done. This match will not tarnish the legend of Didier Deschamps."
Deschamps himself took responsibility for what he called an "unacceptable" first-half collapse.
"It is a defeat, but we were 4-0 down. We produced an unacceptable first half," Deschamps said.
"There was a reaction, with the things we know how to do well. We had two chances to make it 4-4, but we pushed forward a little more.
"That is what we know how to do, but we didn't do it. It is my fault because I must not have done what was needed in the first half."
Deschamps said the performance after the break at least restored pride, but he admitted the sporting disappointment of France's tournament remained considerable after it had arrived bidding to win a third title, and was seen as many experts' favrouite to do so.
"It would have been better to finish third," he said. "We came here with a lot of ambition. We managed to do quite a few positive things.
"We failed in our match against Spain and they knew how to perform against us. This is a group with footballing quality. There was enough talent to get results," Deschamps added.
"On a human level, it was a beautiful adventure. Eight weeks, it was beautiful."
France's 2-0 semi-final defeat by Spain ended their hopes of reaching a third successive FIFA World Cup final before England inflicted another setback on the coach who had turned Les Bleus into one of world football's dominant forces.
"The disappointment is there on a sporting level," Deschamps said. "We had the opportunity to create emotions for tens of millions of French people. It is the [FIFA] World Cup, there is nothing more beautiful."
The French Football Federation paid a glowing tribute to Deschamps, who leaves after 185 matches and 120 victories in charge.
"Didier Deschamps embodied high standards, rigour, a sense of the collective and love for the blue shirt," an FFF statement read.
"Under his leadership, for 14 years, the France team regained credibility, respect and affection while remaining at the highest level in the world."
"Few will have given as much to the blue shirt, as a player and then as coach."
Deschamps captained France to its first FIFA World Cup triumph in 1998 and won the European championship two years later before becoming only the third man to win the FIFA World Cup as both player and coach when Les Bleus triumphed in Russia in 2018.
His final match provided none of the controlled, disciplined football that came to define much of his tenure, but the chaotic defeat did little to diminish a legacy that transformed France into one of the most consistent teams of the modern era.
