DIDIER DESCHAMPS launched a damning assessment of his France side after watching his players get torn apart in the first-half of the World Cup Final.
The French boss likely could not believe his eyes as he watched outstanding Argentina dissect the World Cup holders in the opening 45.
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A penalty converted by Lionel Messi and a wonderful team goal finished off by Angel Di Maria opened up a two goal margin over France.
A desperate Deschamps even made a double first-half change to wrestle back some control.
The French manager was damning of his team after watching them get exposed in front of millions of TV viewers.
In a half-time interview with TF1, Deschamps said: “We utterly failed to show up in the 1st half.
“We expected [their intensity], we neither had the correct attitude nor the correct response.
“It will take a lot to worry them & come back. They are really playing a World Cup final.”
France had shown weaknesses earlier in the tournament.
A rotated team in the group stages fell to defeat against Tunisia, while England and Morocco both gave Les Bleus plenty to worry about in the knockout stages.
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But few could had seen their first-half collapse coming.
They were swarmed all over by Argentina in the opening stages and conceded a penalty when Ousmane Dembele clumsily caught Di Maria.
Messi converted from the spot before helping Argentina move through the gears for a second goal.
Brighton’s Alexis Mac Allister provided the final pass for Di Maria to put Argentina 2-0 up.
Despite the Argentina dominance, France launched an extraordinary second-half comeback.
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