(Doha) You and I are captains of a soccer game at the park around the corner. I leave the first choice to you. You can select any player from this World Cup. Who do you take?
Lionel Messi? Cristiano Ronaldo? Harry Kane?
Come on, it’s looooooong. The sun will soon set.
Look, I’ll help you. Take the three, leave Kylian Mbappé to me.
This tells you all the good things I think of the French striker. I attended his first two games here. Both times I walked out of the stadium stunned by his brilliance.
Saturday evening, it was he who scored the two goals for the French in a narrow 2-1 victory against the Danes. The first was masterful. Mbappé first entered the area sideways. He dropped a caviar on the baseline for Theo Hernandez, who served him one in turn. Mbappé, who had slipped between four Danes, fired on reception. Goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel threw himself on the ground. Too late, the ball was already behind him.
The Danes quickly equalized in the 68the minute. It smelt of the null verdict. It was underestimating Mbappé, who, at the 86e minute, decided by converting a cross from Antoine Griezmann at the far post. The PSG star finished the game with four shots on target, in addition to forcing the Danes to take three fouls against him. Thanks to this victory, the Blues became the first team of the tournament to qualify for the round of 16.
” [Kylian], he is an extraordinary player”, congratulated his head coach Didier Deschamps, after the meeting. “He has this ability to be decisive, to make the difference, even if the opponents make arrangements and he is a little mistreated. The France team needs a very good Kylian Mbappé. »
The 23-year-old striker is also establishing himself as a leader, added Deschamps. “He is not going to speak, but by what he does, he is a locomotive. »
The wagons behind are otherwise in excellent condition. Antoine Griezmann won his six duels, in addition to framing a shot and scoring an assist. Ousmane Dembelé, on the flank opposite Mbappé, has multiplied dangerous breakthroughs. Dayot Upamecano assured in defense. Raphael Varane too.
Even without the last Ballon d’Or, Karim Benzema, even without Paul Pogba, even without N’Golo Kanté, France shines. Meanwhile, other favorites are having trouble. The Argentinians lost to the Saudis. The Germans stumbled against the Japanese. The English canceled against the Americans. The Belgians didn’t impress anyone against the Canadians. The Brazilians may be deprived of Neymar.
And if…
What if goalkeeper Hugo Lloris saved games? What if Didier Deschamps recreated the magic of 2018? What if 2022 was once again the year of France? I know, I know, with ifs, we could put Paris in a bottle. But hey, Kylian Mbappé has already put it in his little pocket, so why not?
France to the end?
With Mbappé in this form, I believe in it.