After France were knocked out of the World Cup by Spain, Roy Keane was less than impressed by the performance of the 2022 runners-up
Roy Keane was furious with France's display(Image: ITV)
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Roy Keane scathed into France after they were emphatically knocked out of the World Cup by Spain. Didier Deschamps' side were second best against the Euro 2024 winners.
Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele and co were nowhere to be seen as Luis de la Fuente's side controlled the match and won 2-0 through Mikel Oyarzabal's penalty and a fine finish from Pedro Porro. It was the latter which left Keane feeling so enraged.
Porro exchanged a one-two with Dani Olmo around Lucas Digne, and found himself in acres of space in the French penalty area. He had the time to take two touches before placing past Mike Maignan. The manner of the goal left the ex-Manchester United captain turned ITV pundit furious.
Speaking live on ITV, Keane said: "When I see these goals and I see players making these mistakes – it's clear (Digne's) confidence is gone, he doesn't know whether to stick or twist – you expect your mates to cover for you!
"It happens all the time, players can get caught out of position, but no-one's helping. That's where they didn't play as a team. The whole part of being a football team is your mates cover you when you're having a bad time, you're never going to come through a game of football where everyone plays well.
"And obviously the attacking players of France are going to be criticised today, but the French defence and midfield were all over the place, they weren't doing the basics right.
"We're on about the attacking players not turning up, but the team behind them didn't exactly give them a foundation to go on and win the game."
Digne in particular endured a nightmare afternoon of football in Arlington, Texas. He was the one who conceded the penalty, trying to swipe a clearance away, only to catch the on-rushing Lamine Yamal instead of the ball.
The Frenchman, who is set to swap Aston Villa for Paris Saint-Germain, was then undecided between pressing Yamal or following the run of Porro. He opted to do the former and was helpless as he watched the Tottenham Hotspur defender double Spain's lead.
France's Kylian Mbappe (10) gestures after the World Cup semifinal soccer match between France and Spain in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas, Tuesday, July 14, 2026
It was a long and disappointing game for France(Image: AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
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France forced Unai Simon into some saves in the second half, but the European champions held onto their impeccable record of not conceding a single goal in the whole tournament. Their 0-0 opening draw with Cape Verde now feels like a long time ago.
They will face either England or Argentina in this Sunday's final at the MetLife Stadium. Thomas Tuchel's side face off against the South Americans on Wednesday, with their match in Atlanta kicking off at 8pm.