Mbappe’s hat-trick STILL isn’t enough for 10/10 as L’Equipe dish out their match ratings

L’Equipe have published their match ratings from the World Cup final – and it makes grim reading for France wide-player Ousmane Dembele. 

Argentina won their third World Cup crown after emerging through a pulsating encounter with the then-reigning world champions, France. 

Offering particularly harsh assessments of the France players’ performances, L’Equipe deemed Olivier Giroud and Dembele – both hooked before the break, upon France going 2-0 down – unworthy of a rating. 

France gained an average rating of 5.5 while Argentina bettered them in that department, gaining an average of 6.4.

‘Forty minutes unworthy of a World Cup final. Defensively, the Barcelona man was far too far from his direct opponents,’ they wrote of Dembele. 

‘He was put in the wind by Angel Di Maria before committing a questionable foul in the area to give away a penalty. Offensively, all of his first checks ended up at the opposing feet.’

Meanwhile, they said of Giroud: ‘The great story of Olivier Giroud in the France team could end on these 41 minutes disputed and these poor twelve balls touched. 

‘The striker did not see the light of day against an Argentine defense which dominated him even in the air, usually a strong point of Giroud. He also got tired going to press at times very high.’

On France’s backline, they were seldom kinder. 

Hugo Lloris, who was bidding to become the first captain to lift back-to-back World Cup crowns, ‘will never be an effective goalkeeper on penalties or shots on goal’, the publication wrote. He was handed a six. 

Meanwhile, Jules Kounde, who endured something of a torrid time in the first half up against Angel Di Maria, was handed a five. 

Raphael Varane was also given a five meanwhile his centre-back partner, Dayot Upamecano, who endured a tough outing against England last weekend, was rated slightly better as he was given a six.

‘He was, at first, the most bleeding defender by making relevant covers and putting impact (against Messi in particular),’ they said of Upamecano’s defending. ‘Attentive also in deep situations. He turns into a boss during the last hour. With an exceptional intervention in front of Lautaro Martinez (105th): the equivalent of a goal.’

Theo Hernandez once again endured a difficult evening as L’Equipe only rated him a three out of 10. The publication questioned whether he was ’emotionally’ ready for a game of such magnitude.

The starting midfield trio of Aurelien Tchouameni, Antoine Griezmann and Adrien Rabiot did not fare much better. The former was given a four, as he struggled to contain Messi in deep areas. Griezmann put in the worst performance of his tournament, garnering a lowly three meanwhile Rabiot was given a five. 

Kylian Mbappe, despite scoring a hat-trick – becoming the first player to do so since Geoff Hurst in the 1966 edition of the World Cup final – was not given full marks.

‘The Argentines had prepared the perfect plan: to deprive him of balloons. But Kylian Mbappe is apart. From the caste of very great players who can change historical appointments,’ they said of the country’s national hero.

Didier Deschamps changed the direction of the game with his substitutions, something he was given credit for in receiving a seven. 

‘He never suffered this final, operating a paying double coaching before the break, with the entries of Thuram and Kolo Muani who brought energy and goals,’ they wrote. ‘Then he replaced Hernandez with Camavinga, which was also daring, and which secured the left side. No doubt he was just slow to replace Varane.’

Coman was handed a six – largely because of his incessant running and taking on of the full-back. Marcus Thuram was given a seven, meanwhile Kolo Muani was also given a seven. Eduardo Camavinga, who has made something of a name for himself in changing the game from the substitutes bench – be it for Real Madrid or France – was praised for the ‘personality’ he instilled into their performance. He was rated six out of 10. 

Argentina, meanwhile, received slightly better ratings across the park. Emiliano Martinez, whose penalty heroics ensured they won their third World Cup crown, was given an eight. 

Appropriately, perhaps, Nahuel Molina was given a four for his failure to handle Mbappe. His letting go of the French forward for their equaliser was particularly poor. 

Cristian Romero was given a seven; three marks higher than his defensive partner Nicolas Otamendi, who gave away a penalty and appeared generally clumsy. 

‘Since Romero was taking care of everything, he didn’t have much work to do but he almost failed when he found himself exposed,’ they wrote of Otamendi.

Nicolas Tagliafico was given a five. 

In Argentina’s midfield L’Equipe found good reason to offer lofty ratings. Rodrigo De Paul – ‘He immediately announced the color in terms of aggressiveness (2nd). Irreproachable in commitment, intensity, pressing. He gave blows, he took some too.’ – was given a seven. As was Enzo Fernandez, who was also crowned Young Player of the Tournament after the final. 

Alexis Mac Allister, who is seemingly going to be returning to England with a dilemma on his hands over his future, was also rated a seven. 

Angel Di Maria, who could only last an hour after being thrown in for his first start since the Poland game in the group stages, was handed an eight for his imperious first half performance. The Juventus player scored and generally caused France all sorts of problems. He also won the penalty from which Argentina took the lead.

Lionel Messi, who scored twice and slotted his penalty in the shootout, was given an eight. His strike partner, Julian Alvarez, was given a six. 

L’Equipe held back particular praise for Lionel Scaloni, Argentina’s head coach. He was given an eight and they wrote of his showing on the touchline: ‘He had kept the mystery until the end and opted for Di Maria and a 4-3-3. A winning bet (a goal, a penalty kick). He put his team in the ideal position: they mastered everything from A to Z (duels, intensity) for 85 minutes. His team was stunned by the return of the Blues but never gave up on their plan or gave up.’