A frustrated Kylian Mbappe has admitted that his Euro 2024 campaign was “a failure” after France suffered an agonising semi-final exit at the hands of Spain.
Didier Deschamps’ pre-tournament favourites led after just eight minutes of Tuesday night’s blockbuster last-four clash in Munich, scoring what was incredibly their first goal from open play after Mbappe’s cross was headed in by Randal Kolo Muani.
However, that was as good as it got for Les Bleus at the Allianz Arena, with a record-breaking wonder goal from 16-year-old Lamine Yamal quickly followed by a stylish Dani Olmo effort that cancelled out that early opener and ultimately sent Spain into Sunday night’s final at the Olympiastadion in Berlin, where they will face either the Netherlands or England.
Though they certainly played their part in a thrilling semi-final, defeat capped the end of a disappointing tournament for France, who finished behind Austria in Group D and needed own goals to see off both the Austrians and Belgium as they also relied on penalties to oust Portugal in the quarter-finals.
Before Kolo Muani’s header against Spain, Mbappe had been the only French player to find the back of the net at the tournament with his penalty in the 1-1 draw with Poland, which followed a broken nose suffered against Austria that led to him donning a protective face mask that he ditched against Spain.
That was the new Real Madrid superstar’s first and only European Championship goal to date, compared with the 12 he has already scored at World Cups in his career.
It was another Euros campaign to forget from Mbappe, who did not shy away from criticism after France’s heartbreaking last-four exit as he now prepares to take a break before beginning his career at the Bernabeu.
“In football you’re good or not good. I wasn’t good,” he said. “My Euros was a failure.
“I wanted to be European champion… I will now go on holiday. I will rest well, it will do me a lot of good, then I will get ready to start a new life. There's a lot to do.”
