A former prime minister of Spain faces criticism after comments suggesting that France’s World Cup team had “no French players.” According to reports, the ex–Spanish head of government said he was impressed by France’s performance in the tournament but raised questions about the national identity of the players in the squad. The remark sparked backlash, with critics arguing that the statement implied France’s team was not genuinely French. Other coverage indicates the former prime minister’s focus was on how players are identified with the country they represent in international competition, rather than challenging France’s results. The controversy is framed around the tension between nationality and eligibility in football, where players eligible to represent a country may have different personal backgrounds. The comments are described as coming ahead of a World Cup clash involving France, intensifying attention on the meaning and wording of the former official’s remarks. The reports agree on the core allegation: the former Spanish premier questioned whether France had “French” players on the World Cup roster.