France Coach Didier Deschamps Questions Referee After World Cup Semi-Final Loss to Spain

France was eliminated from the 2026 World Cup on Tuesday after a 2-0 defeat to Spain, who dominated the match throughout the full 90 minutes. Following the loss, French coach Didier Deschamps criticized the refereeing, questioning whether the official met the standards expected for a World Cup semi-final. Deschamps acknowledged France was technically inferior and made errors but highlighted controversial refereeing decisions, including a penalty awarded to Spain early in the game after a foul by France's Lucas Digne on Spain's Alamin Yamal. Some French observers argued the Spanish player handled the ball, but former international referee Saeed Angimi defended the penalty call as justified, noting Yamal’s natural arm position.

Deschamps refrained from directly accusing the referee but expressed frustration, saying, "If I say something, I’ll sound like a crybaby because we lost." He emphasized that Spain showed superior performance and tactical discipline. French midfielder Ryan Cherki also reflected on the defeat, noting Spain’s better tactical positioning and control of second balls, which limited France’s chances. Cherki said the team tried to ignite a comeback but was outplayed tactically in a match decided by fine margins. France will now compete in the third-place playoff.

The penalty incident, which sparked debate, was a key moment in the match, contributing to Spain’s early lead and eventual victory. The French team’s technical shortcomings and Spain’s tactical superiority were decisive factors in the semi-final outcome.