France Player Ratings vs Spain: Too Little, Too Late for Les Bleus!

Didier Deschamps' team loses 5-4 in the historic Nations League semi-final, despite tremendous efforts from Rayan Cherki and Kylian Mbappé.

France narrowly succumbed to Spain 5-4 in an exciting Nations League semi-final encounter that was full of drama, incredible goals, and heroic late goals. In a match that revealed both their attacking prowess and defensive weaknesses, Les Bleus narrowly lost despite a heroic second-half comeback spearheaded by Kylian Mbappé and an inspired Rayan Cherki.

Player Ratings for France

Mike Maignan: 5 out of 10.

The goalie for AC Milan had a memorable evening. He made a few good saves, but his inability to correctly handle a long-range shot was the cause of Spain's second goal. Under pressure, his distribution also faltered.

4/10 for Benjamin Pavard

fought defensively against Spain's fast wingers and was repeatedly caught out of position. was replaced early in the second half as Deschamps searched for more attacking danger because he didn't provide anything going forward.

Jules Koundé: 5 out of 10.

The Barcelona defender's performance was inconsistent. Although he made a few important interceptions, Spain's flowing offense frequently exposed him. His slowness was taken advantage of, especially when he was playing alone.

Dayot Upamecano: 5.5 out of 10.

Although he was strong in the air, the Bayern Munich defender found it difficult to keep up with Spain's movement. At times, his posture was dubious, and he did not successfully coordinate the backline.

6/10 for Theo Hernández

Hernández was a reliable danger down the left wing and one of France's better defenders. He was beaten too easily for Spain's third goal, though, and his defensive contributions were patchy.

6.5 out of 10 for Aurélien Tchouaméni

The Real Madrid midfielder occasionally broke up play and maintained composure when in possession. However, when Spain dominated the first half, he was overwhelmed in the midfield. As France retaliated, they entered the game.

Adrien Rabiot: 5 out of 10.

The Juventus player gave a quiet performance. He found it difficult to establish himself in midfield and was frequently passed by Spain. made a substitution as France tried to win the game in the second half.

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6/10 for Antoine Griezmann

worked diligently, but in the last third he lacked his typical inventiveness. Although he was unable to have as much of an impact on the game as he would have liked, he dropped deep to aid in link play.

Ousmane Dembélé: 6.5 out of 10.

His speed and dribbling made him a continual threat, but he frequently lacked the final ball. had a few chances in the first half and ought to have performed better.

Kylian Mbappé: 8.5 out of 10.

France's most exceptional performer. was a continual threat to Spain's defense and scored an incredible solo goal to start the comeback. Despite his remarkable speed, talent, and finishing, the game could not be saved by his genius alone.

5/10 for Olivier Giroud

fought to have an effect before being replaced. In addition to lacking service, they were unable to sustain play against Spain's center-backs.

Alternatives

Rayan Cherki, a contender for Man of the Match, received an 8/10.

An introduction that changes the game. After entering the game, the youthful Lyon playmaker was a force to be reckoned with, contributing two assists and bringing inventiveness to France's attack. Spain's defense was in disarray due to his vision and dribbling. A budding star.

Kingsley Coman: 7 out of 10.

energy and directness down the right wing. He was crucial to France's late charge, but his crossing was risky.

6.5 out of 10 for Eduardo Camavinga

came on and gave midfield solidity and vitality. contributed to France taking charge in the second half.

Conclusion: A Valiant Comeback Falls Short

Mbappé and Cherki led a nearly miraculous comeback in France's exciting second-half performance. But the first half's defensive errors cost them dearly. This French squad, which is captained by Mbappé and includes up-and-coming players like Cherki, will continue to be among the best in the world if Deschamps can strike the correct balance between attack and defense.