Platini cautioned.
“I f I start playing just to prove all of my critics wrong and to shut them up, I think I’d have to keep playing until I was 80,” Kylian Mbappé remarked as he etched his name in history by surpassing Olivier Giroud as France’s all-time leading scorer. His recent goals, which secured a 3-1 victory over Senegal in their World Cup opener, were not driven by a desire for “Kylian Mbappé is against extreme views and against ideas that divide people,” but rather served as a response to ongoing scrutiny.
Mbappé is not one to limit his expressions to the field alone. Ahead of Euro 2024, he spoke about his political stance, referring to himself in the third person while opposing the far-right. “You are playing for all French people,” he stated two years ago, emphasizing his pride in representing France and his desire to align with values that reflect his beliefs.
His comments have sparked reactions, including criticism from Michel Platini, who advised Mbappé to maintain political neutrality.
“Once you take a stand, you fall out with half of the world.”
Despite the mixed reception, Coach Deschamps acknowledges that when Mbappé speaks, he represents the views of the entire team. However, this has not enhanced his popularity, which has been declining since his departure from Paris Saint-Germain two years ago. Mbappé is acutely aware of his public image, remarking, “I am hated enough as it is,” when discussing potential political aspirations.
For now, his focus is on winning another World Cup. In the context of the French national team, Mbappé’s dynamic with Ousmane Dembélé presents challenges. Dembélé has thrived in the No 9 role at PSG under Luis Enrique, securing two Champions League titles and a Ballon d’Or. However, this role is already occupied on the international stage.
Initially positioned on the wing, Dembélé has recently been trialed in a central role, yet his performance against Northern Ireland and Senegal fell short of expectations. He recorded only 40 touches, with only Mbappé having fewer. France collectively struggled, failing to register a single shot on target in the first half, with Dembélé’s blocked long-range attempt being their only effort.
In club football, Mbappé, Dembélé, Michael Olise, and Désiré Doué scored a remarkable 97 goals together last season and contributed to 157 goals when assists are included. This impressive offensive capability highlights a puzzling malfunction in France’s attack during the match against Senegal.
Deschamps recognized the issue at half-time, opting to reposition Dembélé to the right and introducing Olise to a central role. He explained, “We were a lot better when Michael was positioned in the middle. I did it because I thought it would provide more of a link. Michael can play on both sides, but the more he gets on the ball, the better.”
This shift proved beneficial for Mbappé. In this scenario, Olise plays a crucial supportive role, akin to a quarterback enabling a runner. As Bayern Munich’s forward set up Mbappé for the first goal, Dembélé suggested a safer backward pass, but Mbappé anticipated the opportunity, and Olise recognized the run.
While different in style, Olise effectively fills the gap left by Antoine Griezmann. The former Atlético Madrid forward is Mbappé’s most frequent international teammate, having played 83 matches together. No player has provided more assists to Mbappé than Griezmann, and his absence was felt, but Olise is stepping up.
The synergy among Olise, Dembélé, and Doué was essential in breaking through a game that posed significant challenges for Deschamps for over an hour. The French side lacked creativity and varied offensive strategies, with Dembélé, Olise, and Doué crowding the same spaces and failing to make forward runs from the flanks. Deschamps opted for Doué due to his technical skills over Bradley Barcola, a player known for stretching defenses with his speed. Barcola’s goal from the bench might prompt Deschamps to reconsider his starting lineup ahead of the upcoming match against Iraq.
Ultimately, the evidence suggests that the Dembélé experiment in the No 10 position should not continue. The leniency of the group stage made it reasonable to explore this option despite earlier struggles. France should utilize the Iraq match to further develop the connection between Mbappé and Olise.
This team is constructed around Mbappé, and the victory over Senegal reinforces his pivotal role in a talented offensive lineup. At just 27, he has already made his mark in history, becoming not only France’s leading scorer but also surpassing Just Fontaine’s record for the most goals in World Cup history with 14. As he approaches his 100th cap, his ability to deliver under pressure sets him apart, overshadowing even the most gifted teammates.
“Even if he can’t have a great game, in one action he can make his team win,” Deschamps noted after the Senegal match. Mbappé is emerging as the traditional No 9 that France has lacked since Giroud’s retirement, becoming a lethal presence in the box.
Consequently, he requires support, and Olise is that key provider. This raises difficult questions about Dembélé’s role and possibly his future in the squad. The situation is becoming increasingly clear that it is up to France’s dual leaders, Mbappé and Olise, to determine the team’s success or failure.
This is an article by Get French Football News
