DPA
Berlin
In the loneliest of moments Kylian Mbappe could think of Zinedine Zidane. With head bowed and eyes glazed, the 22-year-old left Bucharest’s National Arena late Monday feeling the weight of the French nation on his shoulders.
Moments before Mbappe had stepped up to the penalty spot with France trailing Switzerland 5-4 in a shoot-out after a thrilling 3-3 draw in the last 16 of Euro 2020.
"I wanted to help the team but I’ve failed,” Mbappe wrote later on social media.
Zidane, arguably the greatest-ever French player, also left a big occasion alone and in silence after his red card in the 2006 World Cup final. A single failure does not define a career.
Coach Didier Deschamps, a team-mate of Zidane for the 1998 World Cup win and Euro 2000 triumph, attempted to console his young striker on the pitch.
"Of course he knows his responsibility,” he said later. "He wanted to take this penalty.”
Deschamps later dismissed talk of splits in the camp after a low key campaign by the pre-tournament favourites which included just one win in four games - albeit in a tough group with Germany, holders Portugal and a high-performing underdog in Hungary.
"No, no, no. The team is united,” he said. "It is a unique team, today they are on the floor - but united.”
France trailed 1-0 at the break but led 3-1 before conceding twice in the closing 10 minutes.
The dominant performance in their Munich opener against Germany - won only 1-0 but with huge superiority - seemed a long time ago.
Deschamps on paper did lots right with the recalled Karim Benzema, who scored twice against Switzerland, at the peak of a team which included stars Antoine Griezmann, Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kante along with Mbappe.
But successive draws with Portugal, Hungary and then the Swiss, particularly in such a fashion, are hard to explain.
"If France win we’re the best in the world and if we lose it’s my responsibility,” said Deschamps, who however did not suggest he would step down.
He led the team to the Euro 2016 final lost to Portugal and the World Cup triumph two years later.
"This moment hurts but that’s football,” he said.
"It’s over for us here, we have to accept that.” Mbappe, the stand-out star of the World Cup while still a teenager, failed to score at the Euros though did have a brilliant goal against Germany disallowed for a marginal offside.
"Keep your head up, Kylian! Tomorrow is the first day of a new journey,” tweeted Brazilian great Pele while former Germany defender Jerome Boateng said: "Chin up @KMbappe. These things happen to the real big ones.”
Le Parisien paper noted a "brutal end” to the tournament for the Paris Saint-Germain forward, who said the "sadness is immense” after the elimination.
"Getting to sleep will be difficult but unfortunately it is the ups and downs of this sport that I love so much,” Mbappe wrote in his post.
"The most important thing will be to get up even stronger.”
Zidane, when he walked past the World Cup trophy soon lifted by Italy in the Berlin Olympic Stadium 15 years ago, immediately retired aged 34.
Mbappe, though, has plenty of time to put things right.
Berlin
In the loneliest of moments Kylian Mbappe could think of Zinedine Zidane. With head bowed and eyes glazed, the 22-year-old left Bucharest’s National Arena late Monday feeling the weight of the French nation on his shoulders.
Moments before Mbappe had stepped up to the penalty spot with France trailing Switzerland 5-4 in a shoot-out after a thrilling 3-3 draw in the last 16 of Euro 2020.
"I wanted to help the team but I’ve failed,” Mbappe wrote later on social media.
Zidane, arguably the greatest-ever French player, also left a big occasion alone and in silence after his red card in the 2006 World Cup final. A single failure does not define a career.
Coach Didier Deschamps, a team-mate of Zidane for the 1998 World Cup win and Euro 2000 triumph, attempted to console his young striker on the pitch.
"Of course he knows his responsibility,” he said later. "He wanted to take this penalty.”
Deschamps later dismissed talk of splits in the camp after a low key campaign by the pre-tournament favourites which included just one win in four games - albeit in a tough group with Germany, holders Portugal and a high-performing underdog in Hungary.
"No, no, no. The team is united,” he said. "It is a unique team, today they are on the floor - but united.”
France trailed 1-0 at the break but led 3-1 before conceding twice in the closing 10 minutes.
The dominant performance in their Munich opener against Germany - won only 1-0 but with huge superiority - seemed a long time ago.
Deschamps on paper did lots right with the recalled Karim Benzema, who scored twice against Switzerland, at the peak of a team which included stars Antoine Griezmann, Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kante along with Mbappe.
But successive draws with Portugal, Hungary and then the Swiss, particularly in such a fashion, are hard to explain.
"If France win we’re the best in the world and if we lose it’s my responsibility,” said Deschamps, who however did not suggest he would step down.
He led the team to the Euro 2016 final lost to Portugal and the World Cup triumph two years later.
"This moment hurts but that’s football,” he said.
"It’s over for us here, we have to accept that.” Mbappe, the stand-out star of the World Cup while still a teenager, failed to score at the Euros though did have a brilliant goal against Germany disallowed for a marginal offside.
"Keep your head up, Kylian! Tomorrow is the first day of a new journey,” tweeted Brazilian great Pele while former Germany defender Jerome Boateng said: "Chin up @KMbappe. These things happen to the real big ones.”
Le Parisien paper noted a "brutal end” to the tournament for the Paris Saint-Germain forward, who said the "sadness is immense” after the elimination.
"Getting to sleep will be difficult but unfortunately it is the ups and downs of this sport that I love so much,” Mbappe wrote in his post.
"The most important thing will be to get up even stronger.”
Zidane, when he walked past the World Cup trophy soon lifted by Italy in the Berlin Olympic Stadium 15 years ago, immediately retired aged 34.
Mbappe, though, has plenty of time to put things right.