France take little solace from reaching semi-finals after Euro exit

DORTMUND, Germany : France were among the favourites for Euro 2024 and while they reached the semi-final stage their exit left many feeling that their tournament had been a failure.

Securing a place in the final four saw coach Didier Deschamps achieve a contract target and he is set to remain at the helm for two more years, but few in the French set-up will emerge with much credit from the tournament in Germany.

Their much-vaunted forward line left with reputations battered and attacking midfielder Antoine Griezmann with questions over his international future.

Even their defence, which had stood firm throughout the tournament, crumbled when needed the most as they allowed Spain to fight back for a 2-1 win in Tuesday’s semi-final in Munich.

Kylian Mbappe was perhaps the biggest disappointment, contributing only a penalty and an assist, but with mitigating circumstances.

A broken nose in France’s opener against Austria threatened a premature end to his participation but after missing the next match he returned with a mask to protect his face.

He said it had inhibited him in subsequent games so when he emerged on Tuesday to play without it supporters would have been hoping a liberated Mbappe would produce an inspired performance of old.

It started well enough with an inch-perfect elevated pass for Randal Kolo Muani’s goal but rapidly descended into a sequence of predictable cut-ins followed by off-target shots.

"The competition was a failure. I wanted to be European champion but we're not,” he told reporters.

“It's football. We have to move on. We're going home, it's simple.

"I have to rest. Afterwards, I'm leaving for a new life," the Real Madrid-bound forward added.

Griezmann set a French record on Tuesday when he came on as a