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Kylian Mbappé said his Euro 2024 performance was a “failure” after France was eliminated Tuesday with a 2-1 semifinal loss to Spain.
“My competition? It was difficult,” Mbappé told reporters after his team’s elimination (translation h/t ESPN’s Sam Marsden.) “It was a failure. We had the ambition to be European champions. I had the ambition to be European champion. We aren’t that, so it’s a failure.
“It’s football. We have to move on. It’s been a long year. I’m going to go on holiday and get some rest. That’ll do me a lot of good, and I’ll try and come back strongly.”
After breaking his nose during France’s first game of the tournament, Mbappé went on to record one goal in five games.
Mbappé’s lone goal of the tournament came on a penalty during France’s 1-1 draw with Poland in the group stage.
Mbappé said during the Round of 16 that the mask he had to wear to protect his broken nose, suffered during a collision with an Austrian defender in the group stage, limited his field of vision and made it difficult to play (h/t ESPN.)
The French star at times appeared visibly limited by his injury. He was then taken off the field in extra time of the nation’s Saturday quarterfinal win over Portugal after he was hit in the head by a ball that knocked his mask from his face.
Mbappé arrived for Tuesday night’s semifinal match without the mask and assisted on Randall Kolo Muani’s opening goal in the ninth minute. The tally marked France’s first Euro goal from open play.
After Spain scored twice in four minutes to earn the lead, Mbappé earned a chance to equalize the semifinal match in the 85th minute. He skied the attempt.
France last won the European Championship in 2000. The nation went as far as the championship match in 2016, but was held scoreless in an extra time loss to Portugal.
Mbappé and his teammates will now need to wait at least another four years for a shot at becoming European champions, while Spain will advance to face either England or the Netherlands in Sunday’s final.
Real Madrid will meanwhile hope Mbappé is fully healed by the Aug. 18 start of league play. France coach Didier Deschamps said Tuesday that Mbappé could have to wear the mask for “months.”