On Tuesday evening, the French national team was eliminated in the semi-finals of the 2026 World Cup by Spain in a one-sided match that ended 0-2. OptaJean, a media outlet specializing in statistics, illustrated the difficulty faced by Les Bleus with a very telling statistic.
0.3 – The French national team recorded an xG of 0.3 tonight, their lowest total in a World Cup match since Opta began tracking the competition (1966).
Worrying.
(xG: expected goals, statistics calculated from chances created).
France, presented since the start of the World Cup as a major attacking force, possibly boasting the best attack in history according to some, encountered a major obstacle. Spain displayed excellent ball control, denying Les Bleus numerous opportunities. This is also a way for them to absorb the pressure from their opponents, a tactic often seen with PSG. And when they lost possession, the Spanish defended very well, both collectively and individually.
Everything became more difficult than against previous opponents, and France had no answer. From both the players’ and staff’s perspectives, the changes were few and far between, and they didn’t bring anything particularly significant. There was also a feeling of a stark difference in intensity and confidence, particularly towards the end of the match, where Les Bleus didn’t even seem interested in pushing forward.
The exit is tough, leaving a lingering sense of untapped potential. The only remaining consolation is finishing on a high note in the third-place match, even if it’s small comfort. Finding solutions will then be the task of the new coach, undoubtedly Zinedine Zidane.
