France captain Kylian Mbappe did not mince his words as Les Bleus were knocked out of the World Cup final race with a 0-2 defeat against Spain at the penultimate hurdle. Spain looked the better side right from the start of the game, producing the sort of technical football that nullified France’s biggest assets on the pitch and exposed their primary weaknesses. Mbappe, speaking to the media after the match, did not hesitate to admit that his teammates were not up to the task against the reigning European champions on the day.

“I don’t think we played the match we wanted to play — whether tactically, technically, or in terms of our overall performance level,” Mbappe said. “And when you don’t do what you are supposed to do in a World Cup semi-final, you don’t win.”

“Our goal was to press them high up the pitch to prevent them from settling into that slow, controlled rhythm — because when it comes to controlling the game, they are better than us. We failed to do that.”

Getting into the tactical details of the game, Mbappe said that France’s initial plan was to press high up the pitch, but Spain turned the tables by turning their press into a 3-on-2 situation in midfield. With the way France played, Mbappe had no qualms about admitting that the performance was not worthy of taking the team into the final.

“We kept finding ourselves outnumbered 3-on-2 in midfield,” Mbappe said. “And against Spain, that’s a real problem. When you put it all together, the result is a defeat. Our touches and movement were not worthy of a World Cup semi-final.”

“It was a dream for us to reach the final, to give our country the chance to keep dreaming and to make history,” he added.

READ | 34 Touches, 0 Shots On Target: Mbappe’s Horror Numbers As France Exit WC

The 27-year-old, who has scored 8 goals in this tournament, said that he now plans to go on holiday with his head held high before the club season with Real Madrid begins.

“Now, it is something we have to face with our heads held high. I believe that when you win, you win with your head held high; so when you lose, you have to lose with your head held high, too.”

“But right now, there is immense disappointment. I find it hard to put into words just how disappointed the squad and I are.”

“Yet even if it might seem a bit robotic at times, we have to pick ourselves up, go on holiday, and move on to the next chapter. Because football waits for no one. We have to start over, put this failure behind us, and learn from it.”

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Hall of Fame trainer Emanuel Steward once had high praise for a welterweight star that he spent a number of years working with.

The 147lb division has produced a number of elite fighters throughout history, including the likes of Sugar Ray Robinson, Henry Armstrong, Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao and Sugar Ray Leonard.

It is a former rival of Leonard that Steward viewed as the best ever fighter he trained, after he heaped praise on boxing legend Thomas Hearns.

Speaking to East End Boxing, Steward explained what separated Hearns from some of the other world champions he coached, such as Lennox Lewis and Wladimir Klitschko.

“Not only was Tommy the best fighter I ever worked with, he was also the most exciting. For me, climbing in the ring whenever Tommy fought, it was just so exciting. Tommy was very special.

“He was probably the closest reflection to my own style of fighting. With Tommy, he had so many outstanding qualities it’s hard to list just one – but he was so dedicated.

“Tommy worked so hard in the gym. If I told him, ‘Tommy, today you spar 20 rounds.’ He’d say ‘Okay.’ That’s just the way he was – dedicated.”

Hearns became world champion at welterweight back in August 1980, and would go on to claim world honours in a further four divisions, making him the first fighter in history to become a five-weight world champion.

‘The Hitman’ was part of the prestigious ‘Four Kings’ along with Leonard, Marvin Hagler and Roberto Duran, leading to a number of famous battles between the quartet, notably his legendary three-round shootout with Hagler which took place in April 1985.

Tuchel could become only the fourth manager to reach a World Cup final with a team other than their home nation – and first since Austrian Ernst Happel with the Netherlands in 1978.

But his England side will have their work cut out against Argentina, who are in the World Cup’s last four for the third time in the past four editions.

When asked by BBC Sport’s Sami Mokbel if the rivalry between the two sides would provide extra motivation on Wednesday, Tuchel said: “We don’t use it as fuel. We know why we’re here – we know what we want.

“We were never shy of expecting that from us, of saying it, of dreaming it. We’re in the semi-final – we arrive very hungry and want the next win.”

Political tensions, especially around the Falklands War in the 1980s, have dominated the relationship between the two nations.

After Argentina’s 3-2 win over Egypt in the last 16, their players were filmed singing a chant referencing the islands.

But Tuchel said: “We respect our opponent, but we don’t dip into historic events. We don’t make it bigger than it is.

“It is a big football match and a big occasion. We are very excited and grateful, but very hungry and ready to go.

“It’s a big rivalry and it’s two big football nations who love football.”

The semi-final will also be the first time England will face Argentina great Lionel Messi on the international stage.

“How he carries the team is absolutely incredible – there are no words,” said Tuchel when asked about the Argentina captain.

“In this tournament he is just the leader, and the key player in any team he plays.

“When Messi has the ball, the movement starts. The technical delivery of Messi is on the highest level. There is a lot to take care of, but we are here to play our way in the semi-final. We are here to impose our style, our strengths.

“A lot of coaches have tried [to stop Messi]. He seems to always have another gear and another solution. He’s unique. We know his quality.

“We know how big the obstacle is. We know how big the ask is.”

Tuchel also spoke about how he likes to try to unwind during what has been a long summer camp.

“Sometimes you just go on a bike, and you need a big parking lot and an ice cream in your hand,” he said.

“For 15 minutes, you feel like 15 years old. 15 not 50! You enjoy your evening in a warm summer for 15 minutes with an ice cream, and you reconnect to that beauty of that feeling which we all have inside of us.”

LSU is the latest SEC program to come out publicly against the ‘Protect College Sports Act’ in its current form.

Is Greg Sankey trying to align the stars to get his desired outcome?

On today’s episode of Locked On College Football, Spencer McLaughlin predicts how James Franklin’s first season with Virginia Tech is likely to go.

Will the Hokies just be battling to make a bowl game?

UCLA Football has some optimism with Bob Chesney at the helm for the first time in several years.

Will their first season see a return to postseason play with Nico Iamaleava at the helm?

00:00 SEC and college sports politics
03:12 Debate over college sports bill
06:21 Opposing a sports legislation bill
12:20 Talking about Ethan Grunkemeyer
16:53 Virginia Tech football predictions
22:01 Discussing UCLA and Penn State Football
22:47 UCLA-Cal football payment and betting
25:59 Speculating on 2027 transfer portal

/ @lockedoncollegefootball  

Clayton Douglas, based in Mornington, is embracing the increased demands of his role after recently taking over the reins at the Anthony and Sam Freedman stable.

The Freedman father-and-son training team were sidelined for 28 days last month following the conclusion of an inquiry into an accidental race-day treatment.

Douglas has stepped into the role of ‘caretaker’ trainer and has seen his stable numbers double, humorously remarking, ‘I was born for this’.

While he manages the Freedman horses, his own have not been neglected. His Everest winner, Giga Kick, is in training and is being prepared for a first-up tilt at the Group 1 Moir Stakes (1000m) at Sandown in September.

With Giga Kick taking pride of place in the Douglas stable, the focus shifts to Mr Waterville as the jumps season draws to a close.

Douglas, who has previously won the Grand National Hurdle as a jockey, has the prestigious race on the agenda for Mr Waterville at Sandown next month. A part of the jumper’s program includes the Deane Lester Flemington Cup 1849 (2800m) at Flemington this Saturday.

Mr Waterville, a winner of the Australian Hurdle at Sandown in May, has been a standout performer over the jumps this campaign, and Douglas believes the gelding can perform well on the flat this Saturday.

In his most recent flat race, Mr Waterville finished eighth over 2540m at Flemington on June 20. When previously trained by Chris Waller, who retains a share in the gelding’s ownership, he secured a second-place finish in a 2800m contest on Melbourne Cup Day.

“He’ll have a little tick over run on Saturday before he runs in the National,” Douglas said.

“The 2800 (metres) at Flemington will suit him. He ran really well there over the 2500 (metres) last time and he’s been a good performer over the 2800 at Flemington before.

“He ran second at that distance on Cup Day, so we know the trip will be no problem, and for what we’ve seen on the flat recently, I’m sure he might be one of the chances, especially with no weight on his back.”

With two significant prize money races on offer to conclude the jumps season in Victoria, Douglas is considering his options for Mr Waterville.

The $250,000 Grand National Hurdle (4200m) appears to be a strong target, while the $350,000 Grand National Steeplechase (4500m) at Ballarat on August 16 is also being contemplated.

“He’s had a long preparation, but the jumping has been the trick to getting him going,” Douglas explained.

“He’s been able to get some good prize money in the last eight weeks and hopefully he can keep going towards some of the bigger jump’s races.

“There’s the Grand National Hurdle on August 2 and then we’ll just sum things up, but there is a chance he may switch into the Grand National Steeplechase a fortnight later.

“I am mindful it is his first jumping campaign, and I’d love to get him back down to Warrnambool to win a Brierly or the Grand Annual next year with him.

“I think we took the sting out of him in the Lafferty (over jumps most recently when second) by backing him up seven days after his Flemington run, so he might go into the National Hurdle a little bit fresher.”

Betting markets for the Grand National Hurdle are available at betting sites.