France's 2026 World Cup campaign ended in turmoil as they suffered a humbling 6-4 defeat to England in the third-place playoff in Miami. The high-scoring affair masked deeper problems within Didier Deschamps' squad, with veteran midfielder Adrien Rabiot publicly criticizing his teammates' professionalism during what proved to be the coach's final match in charge.
The scale of France's collapse was evident from kickoff. England raced into a commanding 4-0 lead by halftime, exposing catastrophic defensive lapses and a complete absence of intensity from the French side. While Les Bleus rallied in the second half to score four goals themselves, the damage was already done. Rabiot's frustration stemmed not just from the scoreline but from what he witnessed on the pitch during those opening 45 minutes.
Rabiot Calls Out Team Mentality
Speaking to beIN SPORTS after the final whistle, Rabiot did not mince words about the team's approach. "We started the first half quite shamefully," the AC Milan midfielder said. "I saw behaviour from some players that I'd never seen before." He emphasized that the disappointing loss to Spain in the semifinals should have motivated the squad to finish strong, not surrender to complacency.
Internal tensions boiled over during the match itself. Rayan Cherki was involved in a heated exchange with Deschamps during a first-half drinks break, signaling the fractured atmosphere within the camp. Rabiot acknowledged the tactical adjustments made at halftime produced improvement, but the psychological damage of the opening period could not be erased. "We talked at halftime; we told ourselves we needed to show some pride," he explained, noting that second-half performance proved far superior to the "unacceptable" first 45 minutes.
Deschamps' 14-Year Tenure Ends on Sour Note
For Deschamps, who has managed France since 2012 and led them to World Cup victory in 2018, this defeat symbolized a difficult end to an otherwise decorated tenure. Before the match, even Deschamps had acknowledged the lack of motivation from both nations in a meaningless third-place fixture. His prediction proved prophetic, as France's disinterested performance in the first half left little doubt about their mindset heading into the playoff.
England, by contrast, used the occasion to build momentum. Declan Rice praised the squad's quality following the victory, calling it "the best England group for a very long time." Manager Thomas Tuchel's side converted their second-half disappointment into a morale-boosting finish, demonstrating the kind of character France failed to display.
France now faces an uncertain future with Zinedine Zidane widely expected to replace Deschamps. Restoring squad unity and professionalism will be among the new manager's immediate priorities after a tournament marked by public criticism from senior players and visible internal discord that overshadowed what should have been a routine administrative transfer.
