Excuses, excuses.
Eheheheh.
In all honesty, there is no such thing as "cheese" in real warfare.
It's kind of like saying you shouldn't kick people's balls or go for their throat / kneecaps in a real life fight.
Additionally, French high command is part of the army, therefore, if they are of poor quality, the entire army in general becomes of lesser quality. Things should be distinguished in this way. More accurate language than "best army" must be demanded.
TL;DR, they lost as un-square and unfairly it may or may not have been.
But try to avoid going for the surrender-monkey joke, that's one just a bit mean and ignores French soldiers still died fighting.