French newspapers slam Didier Deschamps’ side following Euro 2020 last-16 shock defeat by Switzerland as L’Equipe lay into Les Bleus at being ‘WIPED OUT’ while others condemn world champions for ‘falling from high’ in Bucharest
French newspapers have slammed the national side following their shock Euro 2020 exit to Switzerland as publications across the country condemned the world champion’s defeat in Bucharest.
Didier Deschamps’ side had overturned a one-goal deficit to lead 3-1 in Romania and were on the cusp of booking their place in the quarter-finals against Spain later this week.
However, Switzerland completed a remarkable turnaround, scoring two late goals to send the tie to extra-time and then penalties, with Kylian Mbappe missing from 12 yards as Les Bleus crashed out from the competition.
French newspapers have slammed the national side following their Euro 2020 exit last night
Leading football publication L’Equipe’s headline read ‘wiped out’ with a photo of forlorn stars
Le Parisien’s headline read ‘la desillusion’ with a photo of Kylian Mbappe after his penalty miss
The French were leading contenders to lift the European Championship come July 11 and their early exit has piled pressure on Deschamps who had been bidding to become the first person to win the World Cup and Euros as a player and manager.
And the newspapers in France have unsurprisingly taken a dim view of the world champion’s shock defeat on Monday night.
Leading football publication L’Equipe’s front page showed an image of Adrien Rabiot, Olivier Giroud and Presnel Kimpembe forlorn on the turf with the caption ‘wiped out’.
Le Parisien and La Depeche both ran similar headlines ‘disillusion’, with the former showing an image of a devastated Mbappe after his penalty miss.
Les Bleus suffered a shock defeat by Switzerland to crash out of this summer’s competition
La Depeche ran a similar headline with a photo of Adrien Rabiot and other stars dejected
La Voix du Nord’s headline read ‘fallen from high’ after the world champions’ fall from grace
Sud Ouest’s front page showed Deschamps frustrated with ‘through the small door’
Meanwhile, La Republique des Pyrenees’ headline said ‘at half mast’ to mourn French football
Midi Libre’s headline read ‘the slap’ following France’s rude awakening in a chastening defeat
‘Fallen from high’, read the headline from La voix du Nord, bemoaning Deschamps’ side’s dramatic fall from grace with an image of Moussa Sissoko and Benjamin Pavard consoling Mbappe after he failed to fire past Yann Sommer from 12 yards.
Sud Ouest ran a single image of a dejected Deschamps with the headline ‘through the small door’ as the French made their untimely exit from the competition having been earmarked as favourites to lift the trophy.
Meanwhile, La Republique des Pyrenees’ headline read ‘at half mast’ as France mourned for their national side with superstar Mbappe looking lonesome on the pitch.
France’s elimination has opened the door for their closest rivals to lift the coveted prize
Midi Libre’s front page displayed a heartbroken Mbappe with the headline ‘the slap’ following their wake up call defeat by the Swiss.
The French had endured a fairly slow start to the tournament, having drawn their two previous games with Hungary and Portugal, although they were expected to come alive in the knockout rounds.
The world champion’s early exit opens the door for the likes of Spain, Italy and Belgium to progress to the final of the competition, while England and Germany will fancy their chances on the weaker side of the draw ahead of their crunch clash at Wembley on Tuesday afternoon.