I still get messages from my Sunday league teammates about that France vs England quarter-final. Even in 2026, with the next World Cup on the horizon, we argue about it like it happened yesterday. France won 2-1 in Qatar, Aurelien Tchouameni and Olivier Giroud scored, and England went home furious about the referee. But the real talking point for me? L'Equipe's player ratings. The French outlet is famous for being stingy, so when they hand out a 7 or an 8, you know someone actually played.
I'm just a regular player who loves the tactical side of the game, so I ate up every rating. Let's break it down.
The match in a nutshell
England felt hard done by. Bukayo Saka was fouled about 25 seconds before Tchouameni's opener, but Brazilian referee Wilton Sampaio waved play on. Then Harry Kane went down under Dayot Upamecano's challenge, and again no penalty. Replays suggested it might have been inside the box. English media would have given Sampaio a 1/10. L'Equipe gave him a 4/10, which is practically a compliment from them.
France got the job done, though. They moved into the semi-final against Morocco, the first African side to reach a World Cup semi. Argentina or Croatia awaited in the final. And yes, we now know how that ended — France lost to Argentina on penalties — but at that moment, bookmakers made them slight favourites to retain the crown.
L'Equipe's England ratings
L'Equipe handed out a lot of 5s and 6s to England, which is their version of 'meh.' But two people stood out for the wrong reasons.
| Player / Manager | Rating | L'Equipe's view |
|---|---|---|
| Phil Foden | 4/10 | Joint worst on the pitch |
| Gareth Southgate | 4/10 | Not enough from the bench or tactically |
| Bukayo Saka | 7/10 | “Complete performance from the Gunner. Clearly the most dangerous forward today.” |
| Most England players | 5-6/10 | Average by L'Equipe standards |
Foden getting a 4 shocked me. As a player, I know how brutal it feels when a newspaper singles you out. But Saka's 7 is high praise. He was direct, brave, and kept running at France's defence. If England had a player who deserved better, it was him.
France's ratings: Lloris leads the way
Hugo Lloris was the star man with an 8/10. He made crucial saves throughout, and in a knockout game like that, your goalkeeper can be the difference. Antoine Griezmann and Olivier Giroud both got 7s. Griezmann was impressive, knitting everything together, while Giroud did what Giroud does: score the winner.
Theo Hernandez got a 4. His silly foul on Mason Mount gave England a late penalty, and Kane missed it. Kylian Mbappe was kept very quiet by Kyle Walker and only earned a 5/10. That tells you how good Walker was. Didier Deschamps got a 7/10 for his management.
What I take from it as a regular player
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Ratings are brutal, but they start conversations. L'Equipe's 4 for Foden would sting any player, but it also makes you rewatch the game.
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Saka's 7 was deserved. He was England's most dangerous attacker. In my own games, I know how hard it is to keep asking for the ball when things aren't going your way.
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Goalkeepers win knockout ties. Lloris's 8 is a reminder that the best teams need a keeper who can steal a moment.
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Mbappe can be contained. Walker proved that even the fastest player in the world can be neutralised with discipline and positioning.
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Refereeing decisions live forever. England fans will still talk about Sampaio in 2026, and honestly, I don't blame them.
Would I have given the same ratings? Maybe not. I might have pushed Saka to an 8 and Sampaio to a 3. But that's the beauty of football: we all watch the same 90 minutes and see different games. France moved on, England went home, and L'Equipe did what L'Equipe does — made everyone argue.
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