Meanwhile at Milanello a very different kind of story is developing around teenage striker Andrej Kostic, whose agent says the Montenegrin has been left hugely impressed by his early experience under Ruben Amorim.
Speaking to Dazn after the match in Miami, Rabiot admitted the mood in the France camp had been low following the semi-final defeat to Spain, and that it showed in a sluggish start against England.
"We started a bit flat, but you know, there was a lot of disappointment after losing the semi-final against Spain," he said. "Much better in the second half, we could even have equalised. We started too flat in the first half, letting England play too much.
"The attitude was bad to watch from outside. It mustn't happen: when you wear this shirt you have to give your best and it was clear that some players weren't in the match."
Asked about his return to AC Milan after the World Cup, Rabiot made clear his priority for now is rest.
"The holidays first of course, that's all we've been waiting for since we lost to Spain, then it was really difficult days mentally, it was hard to concentrate to play this match," he said.
"Well-deserved holidays, we need to rest well and then we'll be back, hopefully as late as possible."
He confirmed his future remains at Milan, however, saying he will speak with head coach Amorim and goalkeeper Mike Maignan once he returns from his break, having deliberately avoided distractions during the tournament. On the possibility of Zinedine Zidane taking over as France coach, Rabiot said nothing was official yet, but that he would be happy to work under his compatriot.
At Milanello, meanwhile, 19-year-old Kostic continues to make an impression during pre-season under Amorim, despite having initially been signed with a view to playing for Milan Futuro. His agent, Darko Ristic, told MilanNews.it that Milan's interest alone had been impossible to turn down.
"There has been concrete interest from several clubs, both before and during the winter transfer window," Ristic said. "But let's be honest: Milan is one of the biggest clubs in world football. When a club like Milan calls you, you simply can't say no. We were all really happy that this opportunity came from the Rossoneri. For Andrej, for his family and for me it was a moment of great pride."
Ristic added that Kostic has been training with the first team for several days and speaks to Amorim's methods in glowing terms.
"He's really enjoying this experience and has been extremely impressed by everything he's seen so far," he said. "He only has positive things to say about Ruben Amorim. From the way he communicates with the players to the ideas he wants to put into practice, Andrej says it's very clear what the coach wants to build and what direction he intends to give the team."
Asked whether a loan to Serie B remained an option, Ristic said the decision rested with the club.
"Milan knows better than anyone what solution best suits his growth and his path," he said. "Right now Andrej is completely focused on Milan. He's thinking exclusively about giving his best in today's training and tomorrow's."
Pressed on whether the teenager could already contribute in Serie A this season, Ristic was bullish.
"Absolutely yes, I'm convinced of it. He has that special X-factor that can't really be taught. At the same time, we're in no hurry. The most important thing is that his development path is managed correctly."