DIDIER DESCHAMPS launched a damning assessment of his France side after watching his players get torn apart in the first half of the World Cup Final.
The French boss likely could not believe his eyes as he watched outstanding Argentina dissect the World Cup holders in the opening 45.
A penalty converted by Lionel Messi and a wonderful team goal finished off by Angel Di Maria opened up a two goal margin over France.
A desperate Deschamps even made a double first-half change to wrestle back some control.
The French manager was damning of his team after watching them get exposed in front of millions of TV viewers.
In a half-time interview with TF1, Deschamps said: “We utterly failed to show up in the 1st half.
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“We expected [their intensity], we neither had the correct attitude nor the correct response.
“It will take a lot to worry them & come back. They are really playing a World Cup final.”
France had shown weaknesses earlier in the tournament.
A rotated team in the group stages fell to defeat against Tunisia, while England and Morocco both gave Les Bleus plenty to worry about in the knockout stages.
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But few could had seen their first-half collapse coming.
They were swarmed all over by Argentina in the opening stages and conceded a penalty when Ousmane Dembele clumsily caught Di Maria.
Messi converted from the spot before helping Argentina move through the gears for a second goal.
Brighton’s Alexis Mac Allister provided the final pass for Di Maria to put Argentina 2-0 up.
Despite the Argentina dominance, France launched an extraordinary second-half comeback.
However, it ended in heartbreak for the French after they lost 4-2 on penalties.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
