France suffered a heavy defeat in the 2026 World Cup semifinals against Spain (2-0). Ibrahima Konaté, France's central defender, shared his analysis of this setback during a press conference in Miami. After a streak of five consecutive wins, including a recent 2-0 victory over Morocco (2026-07-09), the French were beaten by a superior Spanish side.
What did Konaté say about the loss?
Konaté admitted that France was lagging in several aspects of the game. "We were behind on quite a few things," he said. The defender acknowledged Spain's superiority, especially with players like Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams in top form. "In the last match, they were better than us. The reason? You have to ask the coach," he added.
Why does this defeat hurt so much?
This loss is particularly bitter as it adds to two other defeats against Spain this year. France lost in the Euro 2024 semifinals and the Nations League. "Three losses in a row, it hurts and we don't accept it as competitors," Konaté emphasized. Nevertheless, he remains optimistic for the future.
What to expect from the third-place match?
France will face England on Saturday night in Miami (11 PM). Konaté stressed the importance of this match to finish the tournament on a positive note. "We will be facing them again and we'll see," he concluded. After a streak of five consecutive wins, the French hope to finish on the podium.
