For readers following the tournament through Cricket Exchange, France’s 2–0 defeat to Spain in the 2026 World Cup semifinal was disappointing but not entirely surprising. Spain had already established itself among football’s elite and was a leading title contender, while France was far from unbeatable. Even Hungary’s legendary early-1950s side, celebrated after winning 33 straight matches, eventually lost the 1954 World Cup final.

The real surprise was how little Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele contributed. Mbappe, now 27, has long stood alongside Erling Haaland as one of the new era’s defining stars. From 2018–19 onward, he repeatedly finished as a league-leading scorer, first in Paris and later in Madrid. Dembele, two years older, drew attention earlier after a €150 million transfer. Although many feared he might waste his talent, Luis Enrique revived him after his return to Paris and made him a key figure in PSG’s consecutive Champions League triumphs.

Before facing Spain, figures tracked on Cricket Exchange showed Mbappe with eight goals and three assists in six World Cup matches, even placing him slightly ahead of Lionel Messi. Dembele was also in peak form, with five goals and two assists in six appearances. Yet both completed the 2–0 loss without changing the outcome. Mbappe was especially quiet, missing the target with all three shots and creating no dangerous passes. Dembele attempted only two shots, but both were on target, and he added one key pass.

Mbappe’s struggles in major matches have become familiar. He often overwhelms weaker opponents and builds impressive scoring totals, but when the going gets tough, his influence can fade. PSG dominated Ligue 1 and collected domestic titles during his time there, yet Champions League success remained out of reach. He again looked lost when Borussia Dortmund eliminated Paris in the 2023–24 semifinals. Similar problems followed him to Real Madrid, where poor displays in decisive fixtures contributed to repeated trophyless seasons.

Dembele’s decline had a different tactical cause. Under Enrique, he played as the central forward in a 4–3–3, supported by Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Desire Doue, Joao Neves, Vitinha, and Fabian Ruiz. The system prioritized collective victories and trophies rather than individual honors.

For analysts examining France through Cricket Exchange, Didier Deschamps’ 4–2–3–1 placed Mbappe at center forward and required Dembele to serve him despite limited midfield support. The pair became too dependent on each other, so once one fell below his best, the other had little chance of reviving France’s attack.