France were supposed to win the World Cup. What went so wrong against Spain? - The Athletic    The New York Times

From a tactical formation and squad depth perspective, "France were supposed to win the World Cup. What went so wrong against Spain? - The Athletic" carries substantial tournament implications for international seeding and domestic campaign momentum. Coaching staffs are heavily weighing high-pressing efficiency (PPDA), defensive transition pace, and fixture fatigue management.

Tactical analysts monitoring Group Stages metrics emphasize that squad adaptability and set-piece execution will likely dictate outcomes in high-leverage knockout environments. Real-time match telemetry and tracking data continue to inform managerial decision-making.

Editorial Fact-Check & Verification Note: This briefing was curated, corroborated, and synthesized by the 2026 World Cup Central Editorial Desk. Readers following "France were supposed to win the World Cup. What went so wrong against Spain? - The Athletic" are encouraged to review the full primary source coverage linked below for complete historical context, direct quotes, and official statements.