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Rabat – France head coach Didier Deschamps questioned whether the referee assigned to his side’s World Cup semifinal against Spain had the necessary level to officiate such a high-profile match, following Les Bleus’ 2-0 defeat.
Speaking after France’s elimination from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Deschamps admitted his side fell short, particularly from a technical standpoint, but also hinted at dissatisfaction with the officiating without directly blaming it for the result.
“We were below our usual level, especially technically,” Deschamps told reporters after the match. “We also lacked quality in our play, and as a result, we couldn’t trouble them the way we had hoped”
The France manager acknowledged that his team struggled to build sustained attacks against Spain, pointing to repeated technical mistakes that disrupted their rhythm.
“We tried on several occasions, but we made too many technical errors,” he said. “Many of our passes were intercepted, forcing us back into defending when those situations could have become dangerous attacks or goal-scoring opportunities.”
However, it was Deschamps’ comments on the match officials that drew the most attention.
When asked about the referee’s performance, the French coach initially appeared reluctant to comment. “I’m not going to talk about it,” he said. “Because if I say something today, people will say I’m looking for excuses after losing.”
He then posed a question of his own.
“But I do have one question for all of you: Did the referee have the level required to officiate a World Cup semifinal?” he questioned.
Deschamps stopped short of providing his own answer, instead leaving the issue open to interpretation.
“I’m not the one who will answer that question; you are,” he continued. “The fourth and fifth officials beside me had the required level, but unfortunately some things didn’t go as they should have.”
France’s defeat ended their bid to reach another World Cup final, while Spain advanced to the tournament’s showpiece match.
Despite his criticism of the officiating, Deschamps ultimately acknowledged that France’s own performance was not good enough to overcome the Spanish side.
