France slammed for early Adrien Rabiot substitution France suffered a crushing 2-0 semifinal defeat to Spain in the 2026 World Cup, but it was Didier Deschamps' decision to substitute Adrien Rabiot at halftime that sparked the most controversy. The AC Milan midfielder, booked in the 9th minute, was replaced by Manu Koné-a move that left French media baffled. ## Why was the decision criticized? Deschamps defended his choice, stating that Rabiot risked a second yellow card, which would have weakened the team. « He got a yellow card and almost got a second. It’s hard for a midfielder to play freely with that intensity in such a match », he said. However, French media disagreed. Former France international Johan Micoud voiced his disapproval on L’Équipe du Soir: « Are we talking about this? It’s unacceptable to think like that in a World Cup semifinal. You take off a player because he has a yellow card? I can understand a lot, but not this. » ## What do other media say? Sports daily L'Équipe also criticized the decision, noting that Rabiot was the only player making an impact against Spain. « The former Marseille player had a strong start to the match, with a commanding presence, strong duels, and many ball recoveries », it wrote. French journalist Julien Laurens, based in England, also expressed his frustration on RMC: « Everything disappointed me. Deschamps disappointed me with his pre-match choices. His match management-Rabiot subbed off because of a yellow card… I’m sorry, but I think it’s outrageous! » ## What are the consequences for France? This defeat marks the end of France’s 2026 World Cup journey, but it also raises questions about Deschamps’ tactical choices. After a five-game winning streak, including a recent 2-0 win over Morocco on July 9, 2026, France will now prepare for their next match against England on July 18, 2026.