Spain-France: "We didn't mess up," Deschamps and Mbappé's words in the locker room on video

What a strange match to read... Initially overwhelmed, the Blues finally believed in it until the end against Spain , Thursday, in Stuttgart. However, it is the Spanish European champions who will face Portugal in the Nations League final , Sunday evening, while France will rub shoulders with Germany at around 3 p.m., for the win of third place. Victory 5-4 for the Roja .

At halftime, the Tricolores were already trailing 0-2, but Didier Deschamps wanted to be positive. " Return to calm. It's tough, you don't deserve this compared to what you did ," the coach told his players in a video released Friday by the French Football Federation (FFF). In terms of quality, chances, situations... But we're trailing 0-2. We can certainly do better, on the goals conceded... But believe in yourselves, in what you did. Come on, let's do it again, let's start again with that, availability, heads held high, same intentions. All that's left is efficiency, a little luck, but keep your head above water." The rest is history: this positive attitude didn't help the Blues, who were trailing 1-5 for a time.

Also read: Spain-France: What lessons can be learned from the defeat of the Blues?

All this before the French fury, four goals scored and a thrill, a hope, in vain... " You have reason to be disappointed ," admitted the coach after the match, still in the Stuttgart locker room. We did some things very well, we could have done them even better, we did other things less well to have conceded all these goals... There is quality in front of us, but you have it too, we could have hurt them even more. It was important to push until the end, not to have given up, that must serve us. They are one of the best teams. With a discovery for some too, I take that into account. I do not take away this desire. We could have made them tremble a little more ." And snatch extra time...

It's normal to be upset, we're competitors, but not everything is to be thrown away.

Kylian Mbappé

France captain Kylian Mbappé also addressed his teammates. Here too, his message was optimistic. " We had 10-minute gaps in each half, we were two goals behind in each half, but we didn't mess up, " he promised, having notably converted a penalty on Thursday.

And he added: " We have the balls, we see everything in black, but we created a lot of situations, we were in the opposing camp most of the time. We played well, cleanly, it was technically square... Having the balls is normal, we are competitors, but not everything is to be thrown away ." The players of the French team now have a date with Germany on Sunday. After that, some will be on vacation. Others will play in the Club World Cup.