Euro 2024: 'Move on...,' says France captain Kylian Mbappe as he heads for 'holiday' after semis loss vs Spain

France captain Kylian Mbappe conceded that his Euro 2024 campaign was a failure. France exited the continental championship with 2-1 loss against Spain in the semifinal on Tuesday (Jul 9).

"My competition? It was difficult," Mbappé told reporters after the game. "It was a failure. We had the ambition to be European champions; I had the ambition to be European champion. We aren't that, so it's a failure."

"It's football. We have to move on. It's been a long year. I'm going to go on holiday and get some rest -- that'll do me a lot of good, and I'll try and come back strongly," the Real Madrid forward added.

Without Mbappe at his best, France struggled to score goals throughout the tournament. The extent of struggle was so much that the goal against Spain was France's first in the tournament in open play. Their previous goals were own goals barring one by Mbappe via penalty against Poland.

France lost the semifinal despite taking an early lead in the game. Kolo Muani converted a header on a brilliant Kylian Mbappe assist in the eighth minute to get France ahead.

Rattled by the early goal, Spain got into charged up mode almost instantly, making several attempts to equalise the score. The moment came soon about 12 minutes with Lamine Yamal netting the equaliser for Spain.

Yamal, aged 16 years and 362 days, is now the youngest ever goal scorer in the Euro championship. He overtook the record set by Swiss player Johan Vonlanthen, who had also scored against France in Euro 2004, aged 18 years 141 days.

Four minutes later, Yamal was again in action as he slipped a pass to Dani Olmo. Olmo immediately passed to Nava who then crossed it back towards Olmo who touched it delicately towards the goal.

France's Kounde, however, touched the ball in the end before it went in but the referees gave it to Olmo.