Deschamps acknowledges the superiority of the Spanish national team.

"We must acknowledge that we were a bit below our level today," said French national team coach Didier Deschamps on Tuesday, following France's 0-2 loss to Spain in Dallas in the semi-finals of the World Cup.

Deschamps told M6: "There is a lot of disappointment. The players are shattered because our ambitions were high, even if we also have to be realistic and admit that we were technically below our level today against a team that had better control of the game, and even more than that. But the responsibility lies with us first, and I do not want to blame anyone."

Deschamps also questioned the level of the match referee, Salvadoran Ivan Barton, saying, "Does the referee have the required level to manage a World Cup semi-final? (...) I will not answer that. And not because we lost that I say this. There were many situations, and often they went against us as well, but the main reason remains that we were a bit below our level and less dangerous offensively than we could have been, with some technical errors and passes that could have created situations and opportunities."

He added: "We have to accept that, this is the highest level in football, even if it is painful. I do not want to deny everything that has been achieved, but in this particular match, Spain showed something extra."