France players question Deschamps' halftime sub of Rabiot, starting of Tchouameni in semi-final loss

Published Jul 17, 06:15 AM UTC

Following France's 0-2 semi-final defeat to Spain in the 2026 World Cup, internal discord has emerged within the squad regarding two key decisions by coach Didier Deschamps. According to L'Équipe, players did not understand the halftime substitution of Adrien Rabiot, who was the most impactful midfielder despite having a yellow card. They also questioned the decision to start Aurélien Tchouameni, who had not played in two weeks due to an adductor injury, over Manu Koné, who had performed well in previous matches. Tchouameni reportedly faced criticism even from players' entourages. The article also notes Ousmane Dembélé's frustration with pressing support and Kylian Mbappé's poor form. France will play England in the third-place match.

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