Adrien Rabiot blasts France team-mates after ‘unacceptable’ collapse against England in World Cup third-place playoff

Adrien Rabiot did not hold back after France’s disappointing end to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, criticising his team-mates for what he described as “unacceptable” behaviour during their dramatic 6-4 defeat to England in the third-place playoff.

Didier Deschamps’ final match in charge ended in chaos as Les Bleus produced a disastrous first-half display before mounting an ultimately unsuccessful comeback in Miami.

France suffer humiliating first-half collapse

France’s hopes of finishing the tournament with a victory were effectively over before halftime.

England stormed into a commanding 4-0 lead during a one-sided opening 45 minutes, exposing France’s defensive weaknesses and lack of intensity.

Although Les Bleus improved after the break and scored four goals, the damage had already been done as Thomas Tuchel’s side held on for an entertaining 6-4 victory.

The defeat capped a frustrating World Cup campaign for France and marked the end of Deschamps’ long tenure as national team manager.

Rabiot questions team’s attitude

Following the final whistle, Rabiot delivered a brutally honest assessment of France’s performance, expressing disappointment with both the display and the mentality shown by certain players.

Speaking to beIN SPORTS, the AC Milan midfielder said:

“We started the first half quite shamefully.”

Rabiot admitted he was shocked by what he witnessed from some of his team-mates.

“I saw behaviour from some players that I’d never seen before.”

He continued:

“It’s a bit disappointing because it was the last match to do well in this competition. There’s a lot of disappointment after the loss against Spain, but there was work to be done until the very end and we can’t just be content with sloppy play like that.”

The midfielder revealed that strong words were exchanged inside the dressing room during the interval.

“We talked at halftime; we told ourselves we needed to show some pride, and it was much better in the second half because in the first half, some of the behaviour was unacceptable.”

Tensions spill onto the touchline

France’s frustrations were evident long before the final whistle.

During a first-half drinks break, Rayan Cherki was involved in a heated exchange with Deschamps, highlighting the tension surrounding the team as England tightened their grip on the contest.

The visible disagreements reflected the wider issues affecting France throughout the afternoon as the side struggled to respond to England’s relentless attacking display.

Deschamps’ final match ends in disappointment

Before kick-off, Deschamps admitted that neither France nor England were particularly motivated by the third-place playoff.

Speaking ahead of the fixture, he said:

“England does want to play this game and neither do we.”

His comments proved prophetic as France delivered one of their poorest performances of the tournament, particularly during a lifeless opening half that left them with an impossible task.

The defeat brings an end to Deschamps’ 14-year reign, with internal tensions and defensive frailties overshadowing what had been one of the most successful managerial eras in French football history.

England finish on a high

While France endured a miserable conclusion to their campaign, England ended the tournament with a confidence-boosting victory.

Midfielder Declan Rice praised the progress made under Thomas Tuchel despite missing out on the World Cup final.

“This is the best England group for a very long time.”

He added:

“That’s a fact. No one can take that away from us. I think we can be proud as a group. We are just gutted we lost in that semi-final.”

Final verdict

France’s 6-4 defeat to England was memorable for its entertainment value but deeply concerning from a French perspective.

Rabiot’s public criticism highlighted the frustrations within the squad after a chaotic display, while Deschamps’ final match ended in disappointment rather than celebration.

England, meanwhile, capitalised on France’s defensive collapse to finish their World Cup campaign with an emphatic victory and renewed optimism for the future.