France captain Kylian Mbappe expressed his disappointment after his team’s 2-1 semi-final defeat to Spain, acknowledging that they "didn't do enough" at Euro 2024. Speaking to reporters, Mbappe admitted, “They played better than us, they deserved to go to the final, and we are going home.”

Mbappe assisted Randal Kolo Muani’s goal in the ninth minute, but Spain quickly responded with two goals in four minutes to take the lead midway through the first half. Reflecting on the match, Mbappe said, “I had the ambition of becoming European champion. I had the goal of having a good Euros. I did neither. It’s a disappointment.”

France’s overall performance in the tournament saw them score just four goals, with Mbappe’s only goal coming from a penalty. This contrasted sharply with his prolific eight-goal tally during France’s run to the World Cup final in Qatar.

Mbappe had a late opportunity to equalize when he cut inside from the left flank but missed the target, blasting the ball over the bar. “I got past the defender and it went well. Afterward, I thought I just had to score or at the very least get it on target. It went over the bar. That’s the harsh reality of football. 2-1 and we’re going home.”

Throughout the tournament, Mbappe had been playing with a protective mask after breaking his nose in the opening match against Austria. However, he removed it for the semi-final, saying he was "fed up" with it. “I couldn’t see well with it. I spoke to the doctor to see if I could play without it. He told me to decide a man. And there you go, I played without it and I don’t regret it.”