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N’Golo breaks his silence after France’s elimination

admin3 min de lecture
N’Golo breaks his silence after France’s elimination

France’s defeat to Spain in the semi-finals of the FIFA World Cup 2026 continues to stir reactions from many figures in French football. Among them, N’Golo Kanté did not hide his deep disappointment after the elimination of Les Bleus. Asked by a journalist moments after the match, the former world champion gave a clear and particularly harsh analysis of the French team’s performance, believing that the result was primarily due to a lack of collective commitment and leadership.

The journalist first asked him: “N’Golo, how do you feel after watching France collapse against Spain?” This question immediately prompted a candid response from the French midfielder.

N’Golo breaks his silence after France's elimination

N’Golo Kanté said: “I’m angry. Very angry. Not because we lost, but because of the way we lost. When we won the World Cup in 2018, people thought it looked easy. It wasn’t. It took sacrifices, discipline, cohesion, and players ready to fight for every ball. What I saw tonight didn’t remind me of that team.”

For Kanté, the difference between this world champion generation and the current team is not just about talent. He believes the mindset and collective involvement were lacking in such an important match. He argues that major competitions are won through unwavering solidarity, constant determination, and a desire to surpass oneself, qualities he did not see in this semi-final.

Continuing his analysis, the French midfielder added: “I looked at this squad and I didn’t see enough leadership. I looked at the tactics and I didn’t see enough solutions. I looked at the attitude and I didn’t see enough hunger. Spain didn’t beat France because they had more prestigious names. They beat France because they were the better football team in every aspect of the game. They had a plan, they believed in it, and they executed it. France looked lost.”

The former Chelsea and Al-Ittihad player also wanted to acknowledge the many French supporters, whether in the stands or in front of their TVs, who hoped to see their team reach another World Cup final. He reminds everyone that representing France is a huge privilege that comes with a responsibility to meet public expectations.

He continued: “I feel sorry for the supporters because they deserved much more than this. Wearing the France jersey is not just about talent – it’s about responsibility. Tonight, that responsibility didn’t match the performance. There will be criticism for the players, there will be criticism for the coaching staff, and there will be criticism for how the team approached the match. That’s normal because expectations are different when you represent France.”

To conclude, N’Golo Kanté sent a strong message to all of French football: “This group has enough quality to compete for every trophy, but quality without character, without organization, and without desire wins nothing. Spain exposed every weakness, and that’s the hardest truth everyone must accept. This defeat should hurt every person involved. If it doesn’t, then nothing will change.”