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Lucas Digne miscontrolled the ball. In the World Cup semifinal.
Lucas Digne miscontrolled the ball. In a World Cup semi-final.
In the 19th minute, the ball bounced two meters away from his foot. 19-year-old Lamine Yamal pounced like a shark smelling blood. Digne lost his balance completely and planted his left foot squarely into Yamal's thigh, sending the player crashing into the turf.
The whistle blew. Penalty.
Salvadoran referee Ivan Barton pointed to the spot. VAR confirmed. In the 22nd minute, Oyarzabal slotted the ball into the bottom corner.
Spain 1-0.
After the match, Deschamps vented to France24's cameras: "I have a question with a pre-set answer, but I won't answer it—does this referee have the level to officiate a World Cup semi-final?"
The penalty call is debatable. Slow-motion replays showed the ball hit Yamal's arm first. But former international referees N'Gimi and Derrien both agreed: the foul was clear, the handball was in a natural position, and it didn't affect the decision.
Don't use the referee as a scapegoat. Look at the stats: Spain's expected goals (xG) was 1.63, France's was 0.31.
What does 0.31 look like? Ten shots, three on target, zero goals, zero clear-cut chances all match. Spain also had ten shots, only two on target, but both went in. A 100% shot-on-target conversion rate.
A complete tactical and personnel failure was reduced by Deschamps to a single penalty controversy. He was looking for a dignified exit in the final match of his 14-year coaching career.
But he doesn't have many steps left. Deschamps had already revealed in January 2025 that he would leave after the World Cup. July 14th in Dallas is the end point.
Digne endured 73 minutes on the pitch. Sofascore rating: 5.6, the lowest of the match.
In those 73 minutes, every time he faced Yamal, it was an ordeal. The miscontrol leading to the penalty was just the most glaring moment. Yamal had five shots, 83% pass accuracy, and created three chances. Spain's knife was almost entirely thrust through his right flank.
In the 58th minute, Porro and Olmo combined with a one-two to make it 2-0. Porro scored 8.1, the man of the match. Cucurella provided two assists, two passes that tore France's entire defense to shreds.
France lost Saliba in the 30th minute. A non-contact injury, replaced by Lacroix.
In the 73rd minute, Theo replaced Digne. At the same time, Cherki came on for Olise.
Three substitutions, but the left flank still leaked. The logic behind building that flank was fragile from the start, regardless of who was standing on the pitch. From Mendy to Theo to Digne, France changed left-backs three times, yet on the biggest stage, they were still treated like an open highway.
Digne was the obvious disaster. Olise's collapse was hidden in the stats.
The Bayern Munich winger, valued at €150 million by Transfermarkt, played 72 minutes and had only one touch in the box. Goal.com gave him a 3. BBC said he "chose to produce his worst performance in a semi-final."
France's Eurosport headline was even more scathing: "Olise resigned, Digne sentenced them to death."
The French are always more precise when judging their own.
The midfield collapsed too.
Tchouaméni made 61 passes, but only three went into the attacking third, and one into the box. CBS commentator Mike LaHood summed it up: "They packed the midfield with so many players, but they just couldn't turn."
Spain's possession play dismantled France's midfield press into scattered parts. Tchouaméni spun in circles in the middle, the ball never reaching where it needed to go.
Mbappé had 15 touches in the first half. The fewest of any player.
Three shots, zero on target, three offsides, one yellow card. After the match, he used the word "sloppy" in the press conference. Careless, unstructured. The 27-year-old world's best admitted France was tactically dominated.
A World Cup semi-final first half, only 15 touches. That set of numbers shattered Deschamps' tactical board.
Counting this match, Yamal's team has won all six knockout matches against Mbappé. The myth has been exposed.
Deschamps said something else after the match, this time more honestly: "Today, Spain defended excellently. They gave us very little space. Add to that our own technical errors, and the game became very difficult."
0.31 xG, zero clear-cut chances, opponent's 100% shot-on-target conversion rate.
The phrase "technical errors" is too light.
France has been awarded 16 penalties against them in World Cup history. The chronic problem in their defensive habits always flares up on the highest stage.
The last time France conceded a goal in a World Cup semi-final was in 1998 against Croatia. 28 years later, that streak is also broken.
Digne walked off the pitch with his head down, a few scattered boos from the stands.
Deschamps walked off the sideline without embracing Spain coach De la Fuente. When he took over in 2012, the French team was in the ruins of the 2010 South Africa World Cup mutiny. He led them to the 2018 title and the 2022 final.
14 years later in Dallas, his era ended on a stat sheet showing 0.31 xG against 1.63. The sound of the crown loosening had been audible from the very first minute.
Yamal walked into the player tunnel after the match, barely celebrating.
19 years old, shin guards still on, another match to play.