Vfynn_🥷🏼 𐙚@Vfynn_
🚨🗣️New: Mbappe on France’s 2-0 defeat to Spain:
• Reporter: Kylian, a difficult night for France. A 2-0 defeat in the World Cup semi-final. From the pitch, what did Spain do that made it so difficult for you?
Kylian Mbappe🗣️: First of all, congratulations to Spain. They deserved the victory. It’s frustrating because when you play against a team like that, you spend so much energy chasing the ball that by the time you finally get it, you’re already exhausted. That’s the reality.
• Reporter: You looked isolated for long periods. Was that because France couldn’t find you, or because of the way Spain defended?
Mbappe: It’s both, but mostly because of how Spain play. To be honest, playing Spain today felt almost the same as playing Barcelona. The style is very similar. They are so technically good on the ball that they don’t just keep possession, they suffocate you with it. Every player is comfortable receiving under pressure, every pass has a purpose, and they make the pitch feel twice as big when they have the ball and half as big when you have it.
As a forward, there were moments where I looked around and realized I hadn’t touched the ball for several minutes. Not because my teammates didn’t want to find me, but because Spain simply didn’t let us breathe. They recycle possession so quickly that you spend most of the game defending instead of attacking.
People always talk about goals and individual performances, but sometimes football is decided before you even reach the final third. If you can’t keep the ball, you can’t create chances. Today, they controlled every rhythm of the match, and we never managed to break it.
This hurts because we know we’re better than what we showed, but credit where it’s due. Spain didn’t beat us only with talent, they beat us with patience, technique and personality. Against a team that plays football like that, if you’re even five percent below your level, they make you look ordinary.”
—🎙️Mixed Zone