World Cup shocker: France loses in Nantes, Spain draws with Iraq

World Cup favourites suffered surprising setbacks. France lost to Ivory Coast in Nantes, while Spain failed to beat Iraq in La Coruña and had to settle for a draw.

Two major World Cup favourites — France and Spain — had to deal with disappointing results in warm-up matches. Thursday evening made clear that some of the tournament's top contenders are not yet at peak form.

France lost at home in Nantes to Ivory Coast, which is also the youngest national team among World Cup participants. The defeat came as somewhat of a surprise given how strong France's squad is regarded going into the tournament.

Spain's night in La Coruña was even more startling — they failed to produce more than a draw against Iraq. This result too raises questions about whether the European powerhouse is sufficiently prepared for the upcoming title battle.

For both teams, this is a clear warning signal before the World Cup begins. While friendly results don't always reflect true ability, such setbacks can affect team morale. The World Cup is approaching rapidly and time to make adjustments is running short.