French Captain Kylian Mbappe Under Fire, But Coach Deschamps and Teammates Stand Firm
A few light performances and doubts and criticism have started to creep in over Kylian Mbappe. The French captain and one of the world’s most exciting young talents, has found himself under unexpected scrutiny at Euro 2024.
Despite France reaching the semi-finals, Mbappe’s performances haven’t lived up to his usual brilliance. With just one goal, a penalty against Poland, and a less-than-stellar showing in the quarter-final against Portugal, French media and fans haven’t held back their criticism.
Adding fuel to the fire, Mbappe himself admitted requesting a substitution during extra time in the Portugal match, causing him to miss the crucial penalty shootout. This raised questions about his fitness and commitment.
However, his manager, Didier Deschamps, has emerged as Mbappe’s strongest defender. Deschamps pointed out Mbappe’s impressive achievements, reminding everyone that “he has already made enough history with what he has done so far.” He also revealed that Mbappe had been battling a back problem before the tournament, but emphasized his player’s determination: “He wants to make even more history.”
Teammates come in support of Kylian Mbappe
Deschamps isn’t alone in his support. Mbappe’s teammates have rallied around him. Midfielder Youssouf Fofana highlighted Mbappe’s mental strength, referencing his penalty heroics in the 2022 World Cup final: “Kylian is the player who scored three penalties in a World Cup final. I don’t know many players who have achieved this feat.”
Forward Randal Kolo Muani echoed the sentiment, praising Mbappe’s leadership qualities: “He has this gift of carrying a group. He has so much experience – I think he was born to pull a group forward.”
Mbappe’s lack of goals may be concerning, but it’s important to remember the context. His broken nose, requiring a protective mask, could be hindering his performance. Additionally, France’s historic feat of reaching the semi-finals without an open-play goal suggests a more systemic issue.
With a crucial semi-final against Spain looming, Mbappe will be looking to silence his critics and prove his worth once again. Deschamps and his teammates have his back, and their unwavering faith could be the key to unlocking Mbappe’s potential and propelling France towards Euro 2024 glory.
Regardless of what people are talking about, Mbappe is a world class forward in football. At such a young age, he has led France quite strongly in Euro Cup 2024. Mbappe has still so much to offer to France at Euros and french fans will be hoping that his best comes out during the finals.
