France coach Bernard Laporte was gracious in defeat after his team crashed to Argentina in the World Cup third-place play-off in Paris.
The hosts discarded their kicking game in favour of a free-flowing approach but were stung by five Pumas' tries.
Argentina also beat the hosts in the opening game of the World Cup and have won six of their last seven matches.
"The best team won. They've beaten us twice, so it's fair to say they're better than us," said Laporte.
The bespectacled coach, who took charge of his last game before taking up a post in the government as a junior sports minister, added: "We lacked efficiency at the beginning.
"It's a shame because we had the game in our hands but were then hit on the counter attack. We tried to come back but it was too late."
"Argentina proved that they're a top-level side with an exceptional generation of players"
France manager Jo Maso said his team paid the price for trying to play attractive rugby, while flanker Yannick Nyanga admitted that they may have struggled to lift themselves after losing the semi-final to England last weekend.
"We believed perhaps that the World Cup was finished after England," said Nyanga.
"But in life you only get what you deserve. We are very disappointed and we weren't up to it tonight. We have to keep a stiff back and keep working."
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France captain Raphael Ibanez refused to say whether he had played his last international match.
The Wasps hooker added: "This is certainly not the way we wanted to leave the tournament so you can imagine how disappointed the players are.
"Argentina proved that they're a top-level side with an exceptional generation of players. Their victory is well deserved."
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