Adrien Rabiot publicly criticised the performance of some of his France teammates following their 6-4 defeat to England in the World Cup third-place play-off. Speaking after the match, the Milan midfielder described the first half, in which England led 4-0, as “shameful” and alluded to unacceptable behaviour from certain players.
Rabiot acknowledged the disappointment following France’s semi-final loss to Spain but stressed the importance of finishing the tournament strongly. He stated that the team addressed the issues at half-time, leading to an improved second-half performance, though ultimately insufficient to overturn the deficit. He also expressed regret that they couldn’t secure a victory as a farewell gift for departing coach Didier Deschamps.
Reports suggest that Rayan Cherki was the target of Rabiot’s criticism, with accusations of inappropriate conduct during the match. Deschamps, in his final game after 14 years in charge of the national team, refrained from publicly addressing the internal issues, acknowledging his own responsibility for the team’s poor start. He admitted to making incorrect initial selections and conceded that some players underperformed.
Captain Kylian Mbappé also expressed his disappointment with the team’s first-half display, acknowledging that it may have appeared disrespectful to the national shirt. He highlighted the team’s improved performance after the break but lamented their failure to complete a comeback from the 4-0 deficit. Mbappé also faced scrutiny for perceived unnecessary dribbling while the score was 5-3 to England.
Despite the post-match fallout, Rabiot affirmed his commitment to Milan, stating his intention to discuss his future with the coach and teammate Mike Maignan after a period of rest. He denied recent contact with Sporting CP manager Rúben Amorim and indicated he will take a well-deserved break before returning to club duties. Rabiot’s current contract with Milan extends until 2028, though the recent departure of Massimiliano Allegri, with whom he shares a strong relationship, had initially cast doubt on his future at the club. The coming weeks will likely clarify his long-term plans.
