1998 World Cup Winner Christophe Dugarry Slams France's Humiliating World Cup Exit

France suffered a 2-0 defeat to Spain in the 2026 World Cup semifinal, sparking outrage from former French international Christophe Dugarry. Speaking on RMC with Jérôme Rothen, Dugarry, a 1998 World Cup champion, described the loss as not just a defeat but a humiliation. He expressed feeling betrayed and deceived, saying, "I feel like I was worked on, tricked, set up, and betrayed." Dugarry criticized the team's performance as catastrophic, recalling the 80 minutes against Argentina in the 2022 final as a similar low point. He lamented the lack of offensive chances and the absence of any response from the team.

Dugarry also criticized Didier Deschamps, the 1998 captain and long-serving national coach, highlighting that despite the team's talent, their collective play remains limited. He pointed out that France has won only one tournament in six attempts under Deschamps, calling the success an illusion and the overall outcome a huge disappointment. "I'm very angry," he concluded.

Adding to the criticism, Marseille legend Éric Di Meco, also a former French international, commented on the nature of the loss. He said losing to a great team after a strong performance is understandable, but exiting the semifinal in such a poor manner is akin to leaving through the back door. The defeat marks a bitter end to France's 2026 World Cup campaign and raises questions about the team's future direction.