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France's hopes of reaching a third consecutive World Cup final came to an end on Tuesday after a 2-0 defeat to Spain, with Les Bleus unable to recover after falling behind in the first half.

According to L'Équipe, Ousmane Dembélé addressed his teammates during the half-time interval while France trailed by a single goal. The Paris Saint-Germain forward criticized the team's lack of coordination in pressing Spain and urged the squad to raise their intensity after the break.

His intervention did not receive unanimous support within the dressing room. Some players were left frustrated by Dembélé's comments, believing the Ballon d'Or winner tended to voice his concerns only when he was personally struggling on the pitch rather than taking on that role more consistently.

The tension reflected the frustration surrounding France's performance, as Didier Deschamps' side struggled throughout the match to disrupt Spain's rhythm. La Roja remained in control for long stretches and never appeared to be seriously troubled by France's pressing, preventing Les Bleus from mounting a comeback.

France will now turn their attention to Saturday's third-place playoff against England before the squad returns to their respective clubs following the conclusion of the tournament.