"Take the s--t": Mbappe's frank review of France's World Cup pain

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World Cup daily news. We will bring you the latest from around the world as the FIFA World Cup 2026™ finally gets under way (All times AEST).

Kylian Mbappe apologised for his language as he gave an honest and candid response to France's World Cup defeat at the hands of Spain.

The superstar struggled to get himself into the game with Spain triple-teaming him to ensure he could not recreate the magic he has done every game this tournament.

Their strategy paid off with the 2016 champions defeating France 2-0 to secure a place in Monday (loacl) final.

“At the end of the day, you take all the glory when you win," Mbappe said. "But when you don’t win, you have to – sorry – take the s--t.

“At the end, that’s part of the game, it’s part of my game, it’s part of my life.

“As captain, I have to take all the responsibility, and I have no problem with that.

“We wanted to go to the final, we didn’t get there.”

Spain coach Luis de la Fuente has labelled his side as the “best team in the world” after their World Cup semi-final win over France.

La Roja advanced to the Final with a consummately professional 2-0 victory over the French in Dallas earlier this morning.

De la Fuente was full of praise for his side who will look to make it two World Cup titles for Spain.

“We started almost four years ago with an idea, and we’ve been faithful to that idea and it’s brought us here,” de la Fuente told RTVE.

“Today we faced one of the best national teams in the world, but in front of them they had the best team in the world. That is the difference.

“These players deserve everything. Day after day, they’ve showed their commitment, solidarity, generosity, talent. They make the difficult look easy.”

Spain will play the winner of tomorrow morning’s Argentina v England in the Final in New York on Monday morning.

ZIDANE FIRMS FOR FRANCE JOB

The third-place playoff on Sunday in Miami will be the final act as France boss for Didier Deschamps.

Fabrizio Romano is reporting that Les Bleus legend Zinedine Zidane will step into the role and take France into a new era.

Deschamps took over the French job in 2012 and led his nation to glory at the 2018 World Cup.

SPAIN ARE INTO THE WORLD CUP FINAL

And to be honest, it was gifted to them by a French side who, for weeks have entertained and left us in awe with their level of play, but quite simply did not turn up today.

Mbappe has been sensational for the French this World cup, eight goals and currently leading the Golden Boot, he was hammered by three or four Spanish defence today and the strategy worked. France had no plan B.

A moment to tip the hat to Didier Deschamps who, after 14 years at the helm, will soon be leaving his post as France coach. What a legacy he leaves.

But credit to Spain, amid all the ridiculous play acting, they were solid, they had a plan and they executed. this is the best they have looked this tournament.

They stood up when it mattered. Defensively they seem unbreakable. Immaculate. They suffocated France.

Is it their turn again? 16 years after their last World Cup victory? they will face either England or Argentina on Monday morning (AEST).

"Their performance, this was probably their poorest performances of this French side," Archie Thompson said on SEN's World Cup call. "Spain were very good but there was no response to when they went down one goal, there was nothing.

"They have quality players the elite of the elite, touches were off. It wasn’t there today, it didn’t happen. This is sport, you can prepare, dot the I’s, cross the t’s, today for whatever reason it didn’t click.

"Spain were clinical in every facet of the game. Sport can be mean like that it can be ugly. Their performance was just not up to it at all today."

HOW WAS THIS NOT RED?

Been trying to write this since the 15th minute of the match. France should, by the rules of the game, have been down to 10-men since the 15th minute after this horror studs up tackle form Olise on Rodri.

The French winger caught the Ballon D'or winner late on the ankle but received not penalty.

"That's a worse challenge than the Adrien Rabiot one, which Rabiot got booked for," former England player ChrisSutton said on the BBC. "Michael Olise goes to ground and he is really late. That is odd refereeing."

Of all the red cards we have seen this tournament, this one was more clear cut (to me).

HEART ATTACK

Honestly the referee with the off-side flag, react a bit faster please! Three times today he has been slow off the mark and for those of us watching Spain run rampant, our hearts cant take this level of stress.

Yamal scores for Spain but old mate on the sideline finally does his job with the flag and it's disallowed for offside.

France have conceded as many goals in this game as they have the entire tournament. And Spain look far from done.

SPANISH ARMADA!

They have doubled their lead! Where are the French?

None of the defenders were moving. Pedro Porro with the strike but he created the chance himself. Not a single French player moved when the Spaniard did.

They deserve to be behind. After 16 years, Spain are just 30 minutes from the World Cup final.

What is happening?

France need to make some changes they are getting nowhere. Spain defend so casually but SO WELL!

What tricks has Deschamps got left? If you're bowing out of a World Cup, this is not the style you will want to do it in. Franc ehave plaued such exciting and impressive football this tournament. I'm certainly not ready for their journey to end!

Make some changes!

Here we go, but I'm surprised by the change, Barola is off for Doue. Not what I would have thought was coming.

HALF-TIME

France are fortunate not to be going in 2-0 or 3-0 down at the half-time whistle to be honest. They started this game with flair and had the edge, that penalty has utterly flattened them.

They look a team we have not seen this World Cup. Barcola and Dembele still managing to create some glorious chances but the execution is just not quite there at the moment.

For Spain, they are playing solid football, great defence but their arms in the air and relentless sprawling around "injured" is becoming tedious to watch.

France trailing for the frst time this tournament.

SACRE BLEU! PENALTY!

Spain have been awarded a spot kick, Lamine Yamal is crunched in the area by Lucas Digne and it's a sloppy sloppy tackle. Swinging his leg at a ball in mid=air in the area.

Mikel Oyarzabal to take, the 21st penalty of the tournament in regular play, HE SCORES! An absolute bullet of a penalty, penalty perfection. None of this stuttering up in the run nonsense.

Spain are ahead after 22 minutes. France with everything to do.

France's early misery now compounded by the forced substitute of William Saliba who just slumped to the floor. Not entirely clear on what happened but it would have to be something significant if you're walking off 30 minutes into a World Cup semi-final.

France in all sorts, they've lost their fire and they're lucky not to have a second penalty given against them in the 35th minute! Off-sde flags saves them!

They are dancing with danger.

We are underway!

The 101st match of this World Cup, there are three remaining. France and Spain, vying for a spot in the final against either England or Argentina.

It's Didier Deschamps' penultimate match in charge, what can his side find against a Spanish side undefeated this tournament.

Spain are looking to become only the 4th side in history to hold the World Cup and Euro Cup at the same time while France are looking for a third consecutive final.

France are on the attack early. A stunning pass from Dembele to Mbappe, somehow the superstar not only controls the ball but takes on not one, not two but three Spanish players to make a bid for goal!

Plays selflessly and picks out his teamate knowing he is surrounded, the attempt on goal is deflected but France are, for now, looking a little more spicy here than Spain.

Not for the first time this World Cup, France have unintentionally become engulfed in a racism scandal with a former Spanish PM being condemned for comments written in a column.

Former Spanish conservative Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has sparked fury writing that the French national side “does not have any French players”.

The 71-year-old, who was in office from 2011-2018, wrote a preview to the semi-final in Spanish outlet El Debate.

“It’s worth remembering that France has been a two-time world champion and was a finalist in the last World Cup,” Rajoy wrote. “They’ve won every match they’ve played in this World Cup and are currently ranked No 1 in the Fifa rankings.

"They also have a top-level squad. That said, they don’t have any French players. And they’re playing very well. They’ll be a formidable opponent.”

Rajoy's comments drew criticism form Spain's current PM Pedro Sanchez.

“There are those who still measure belonging by surname, place of birth, or skin colour,” he wrote on X.

“Others measure it by our roots in a country and our will to contribute to it. Playing football. Caring for our elders. Or opening businesses. Spain belongs to those who love it and work for it. Not to those who shame it with xenophobic statements.

“France, we’ll see you in the semi-finals. May the best team win and may racism lose.”

Only last week, France superstar Kylian Mbappe called out a Paraguayan senator for her despicable attack on the 27-year-old which has prompted French officials to launch an investigation.

After France eliminated Paraguay, Celeste Amarilla, a senator from Paraguay’s Liberal Radical party launched a horrendous attack on Mbappe which was described by the FFF as “utterly abhorrent and unacceptable”.

SEN will not republish Amarilla's comments but they sparked a furious response from Mbappe who posted to social media: “Madame Celeste Amarilla, you are a despicable woman and unworthy of your position. You do not represent Paraguay, that country which has sweated passion and honour throughout the competition."

France will play Spain in for a place in the World Cup final at 5am AEST Wednesday July 15. You can listen live across SEN stations and the app.