Up to this point, one of the most disappointing stars at EURO 2024 has arguably been France’s Kylian Mbappe. Despite this, coach Deschamps remains confident that Mbappe will shine brighter in the semifinals.
Mbappe’s performance in the quarter-final match against Portugal:
As EURO 2024 progresses into the semi-finals, France has secured a spot among the top four teams, albeit with less than convincing form. Throughout five matches played, the former World Cup champions of 2018 have scored just 3 goals, including 2 own goals and 1 penalty scored by Mbappe.
The Real Madrid newcomer has displayed inconsistent form since the beginning of the season, despite high expectations prior to the tournament. Part of the reason for the former PSG player’s lackluster performance stems from a nasal injury that required him to wear a protective mask, affecting his observation and vision.
Recently, head coach Deschamps personally defended his star player against public criticism. The French national team manager stated, “Do you think with what he’s achieved, Mbappe has already made history? Not yet, he wants more, he wants to achieve more memorable milestones.”
“We’re here and we’ve done everything we can for Kylian to participate in the tournament. During preparation, he even had minor back issues, but in the end, he’s still here. Even if Mbappe isn’t at 100%, just his presence on the field is enough to make opponents wary and have to find ways to deal with him.”
With statements like these, it’s clear that Deschamps maintains full confidence in Mbappe’s form. It’s almost certain that the Real Madrid newcomer will be in the starting lineup for the semi-final match against Spain on July 10th. Under Deschamps’ six-year tenure, Mbappe has been a key player, virtually untouchable in the French national team. His appointment as team captain at such a young age is a testament to this.
Fans of the “Gaul Rooster” are hopeful that Mbappe will deliver peak performance at the right time, reminiscent of his contributions to France’s World Cup victory in 2018 or his hat-trick against Argentina in the 2022 World Cup final, to help France clinch the EURO title after years of anticipation.