Cherki snaps at reporter over Digne penalty question after France's World Cup exit

Rayan Cherki bristled at a post-match question about teammate Lucas Digne after France were knocked out of the World Cup by Spain 2-0 in their semi-final on Tuesday night.

Digne conceded a first-half penalty when he fouled Lamine Yamal, and Tottenham Hotspur’s Pedro Porro doubled Spain’s advantage in the second half to seal France’s elimination. Cherki, who had been influential in France’s run to the last four, was introduced from the bench in the 72nd minute by manager Didier Deschamps, replacing Michael Olise with his side already two goals down.

After the final whistle, a reporter asked Cherki how Digne was coping with having conceded the decisive spot-kick. The Manchester City midfielder made his irritation plain before responding.

“What do you think I’m going to tell you? That he was crying? That we put his head in it? No, these are things that happen in the game, it’s football,” Cherki told reporters. “We have to take him with us. He has to be with us. At half time, we were all together. We knew that the second goal was going to be super important. Today, the disappointment is immense.”

France will remain in the United States for the third-fourth place play-off on Saturday, where they will face the loser of the semi-final between England and Argentina. The winners of that tie will meet Spain in Sunday’s final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

For Cherki, the tournament ends with a return to club duty on the horizon. He is set to join City’s pre-season preparations under new head coach Enzo Maresca ahead of the upcoming campaign.