And just like that France's Euro 2020 run is over. It may be okay for some teams to reach the last 16, but not for the favorite teams of the tournament.
In addition to a brilliant 25-minute spell in the second half of their historic loss on Monday in Bucharest, France started badly and finished badly, with a brave and spirited Switzerland team losing regular and extra time on penalties. A best shot in the shootout helped in a 3-3 draw.
This is a big disappointment. a big failure. Les Blaises are going home without any glory and their heads are down after blowing away their chance of securing a rare World Cup-Euro double.
Didier Deschamps was the captain of the French team that achieved this feat in 1998 and 2000. This time, as the manager, he should be the first to be held responsible for his failure.
Under him, France has reached the World Cup quarter-finals in 2014, the Euro finals as hosts in 2016 and then won the Jules Rimet Trophy in 2018. They were the favorites going into this edition of the European Championship.
Unfortunately, Deschamps lost his way and lost his team's way. It's up to him to get out early, against a team that had never beaten France in a competitive tournament before.
His decision to start Monday's match with a back three was one of the worst thoughts of his managerial career. It didn't help that he was without two left backs, as Lucas Digne was injured and Lucas Hernandez lacked fitness. But getting back into that defensive position seemed doubtful. Three times Deschamps has tried never to be convinced in the past 18 months (against Albania, Serbia and Croatia). So why do this Monday again in a win-or-go-home setting?
Of all the tactical systems, the 3-4-1-2 formation is the most difficult to learn and control. The French had never practiced it before going into the sport. Clement Lenglet, who had never played a minute in the two pre-Euro friendly matches nor in the group stage matches, was suddenly thrown along with the normally reliable defensive pairing of Raphael Varane and Presnel Kimpembe.
It was a car accident. And it was also a terrible idea to have Benjamin Pavard, a centre-back right-back, and Adrien Rabiot, a natural No. 8, as temporary wing-backs. It was such a disaster that Deschamps forced Lenglet out at the break for Kingsley Coman.
After the game, Varane said, "We were just reactive. We completely spoiled our first half. There's nothing more to say. It's a really tough moment."
France finally played and were back in the game when it went 4-4-2 with Coman's entrance for Lenglet. With Koman, Kylian Mbappe, Karim Benzema, Antoine Griezmann and Paul Pogba all on the pitch together, it looked like their talent level in that formation would see them through. Deschamps and his conservative nature seemed to be against it. He only changed things at the break because he had no other choice.
It almost worked. It should have worked. They did nothing to maintain the lead as they led 3-1 with 15 minutes left. He didn't change anything. Instead, he waited until the Swiss came back to make the change 3-2. It was a poor performance, with Moussa Sissoko coming in to maintain the 4-4-2 formation for Griezmann. But why was Griezmann fired, the hardest worker on all three fronts? Why not bring Corentin Tolisso in midfield to help Pogba and N'Golo Kante and take out Mbappe or Benzema? More mistakes made by Deschamps.
Deschamps, like his players, was satisfied with 3-1. They took the game as they did in their 1-1 draw with Hungary. The greatest enemy of France was always to be himself. And after all, that's what their price is.
"The French thought they had won 3–1," said Switzerland captain Granit Xhaka after the game.
Was this loss a surprise? Not necessary. Since the start of the tournament, Deschamps looked like he was controlling nothing. He kept changing his strategy game after game. There was no direction, no ideas and no pattern of play, moves or collective strength. How did he build this team?
Deschamps said, "It's cruel. We gave everything but we have to accept defeat. It hurts, but it's probably because we didn't deserve to go ahead. I was wrong in what we did in the first half." "
"But would have been better in a different formation? I am taking my responsibilities," he said. "When we win, it's on the players. When we lose, it's my responsibility. The players are with me."
At this stage, you cannot improve. You should have a plan that works or at least find it quickly, like Deschamps and France did in 2018. Three years later, it's actually the opposite. Deschamps thought he had a plan after the opening match and victory against Germany.
Now the question is whether Deschamps will return to defend the World Cup title in Qatar next year, to which he will not answer.
"I'm just as sad as the squad and the staff tonight," Deschamps said.
But with this group it is not difficult to see the forest among the trees. This French team really lacked the spirit, team spirit and solidarity on the 2018 pitch. It had no plan. They never played as a team.
"We can't find excuses," said French goalkeeper and captain Hugo Lloris, who saved a crucial penalty earlier in the game but no one could stop during the shootout. "In this squad, there are future great champions."