“The only objective is to win the World Cup, that's my dream, that's my only dream, that's why I came here”.
Kylian Mbappé, whose speeches have been rare since the start of the World Cup in Qatar, recalled on December 4 the importance that this international competition has for him after the victory of the Blues against Poland (3-1 ).
And the number 10 of the Blues is giving himself the means to achieve his dream: in four games played, he has scored five goals and delivered two assists.
Two goals that gave victory to France against Denmark (2-1), two goals and an assist for Olivier Giroud against Poland in the round of 16… Whether on the green rectangle or on the twin towers Al- Jaber in Doha – where his portrait was displayed alongside Brazilian football legend Pelé – the French phenomenon is omnipresent.
The Al Jaber Twin Towers in Doha tonight.
Pelé and Mbappe both displayed.
@lequipe #Qatar2022 #Fra #EquipedeFrance pic.twitter.com/qoIyafGtk8
— Loïc Tanzi (@Tanziloic) December 5, 2022
The current top scorer in the competition is first unanimous among the Blues.
"Kylian has this ability to make differences", explained Didier Deschamps on Friday at a press conference.
"Even in the last match when he was not at his best, he was decisive. It is also up to us to be dangerous (against England) in other aspects to free him. Kylian will always remain Kylian, with this ability to make a difference at all times."
Assistant coach Guy Stéphan was also full of praise for him on Tuesday: "With Kylian, we have an exceptional player. (...) He is a leader in his own way. He also brings in a good mood, he is thirsty for records.”
At 23, the striker of the Blues is in the nails to seek all-round records: in the World Cup, Kylian Mbappé is currently at 9 goals scored in two participations in a World Cup.
He is only seven points behind Miroslav Klose and his 16 goals.
Regarding the France team, “Kyky” is already, with 33 goals scored in 63 matches played, the seventh top scorer in history.
He is already ahead of a certain Zinedine Zidane with his 31 goals in 108 selections.
Olivier Giroud, who recently became top scorer in the history of the Blues, has no illusions: "(Kylian) will break all records, we all know that," he said at a press conference. Explaining that "we haven't seen the best of Kylian yet", the striker painted an ideal portrait of his teammate: "He's one of the best players I've played with.
He is incredible and still young, he can still improve but he is very efficient.
Since the start of the tournament, he has been decisive for us.
He is, if I can say, the best striker I have played with in all the teams I have played.
“Give particular attention” to Kylian Mbappé
On the side of England, Kylian Mbappé is also unanimous.
Asked about him at a press conference on Wednesday, Three Lions defender Kyle Walker replied: "He's a fantastic player and in great shape, so it won't be an easy task (to defend against him, editor's note) But we always want to play against the best and this is one of the best, if not the best right now."
Before the quarters, Mbappé dominates the ranking of scorers 🤙
— World Cup 🏆 (@fifaworldcup_fr) December 8, 2022
The Manchester City defender has already crossed paths with Kylian Mbappé against PSG in the Champions League, and he expects the duel to be tough with the French striker.
“Obviously I understand the focus (on this duel) and I know what I have to do is stop it.
But that's easier said than done," admitted Walker. Before recalling: "I don't underestimate myself.
I have already played against him and against many other very good players, with England, Manchester City or Tottenham".
Kyle Walker is waiting for “Kyky” with a firm footing, and the English selection too: she has even been preparing this meeting for… two years, as explained by The Independent.
"The central point of Gareth Southgate's (Three Lions coach) thinking this week was how to deal with Mbappé," says the British daily.
Steve Holland, assistant to the England coach, summed up the situation before England-France as follows, according to comments reported by the newspaper: “There are a handful of players on the planet to whom you must pay particular attention.
Messi was one and probably still is.
Mbappé should be put in this kind of category.
We must try to avoid putting ourselves in situations where he is as devastating as we have all seen.
We have to try to find a way to avoid that."
To counter the French striker, England are considering two concomitant options: to prevent him from causing problems by marking him close in defense – a line of three England central defenders is considered, with Kyle Walker in the corridor of Kylian Mbappé and possibly a two-man take with a right piston (Bukayo Saka?) – and reduce the projections of the French offensive line by causing problems for the Blues defense with the Three Lions attackers.
“The match is not England against Mbappé”
"It's a game of cat and mouse: yes, we must always try to manage (Kylian Mbappé), but we must also try to exploit the weaknesses that his super strength gives us," said Steve Holland. specify: "We will not only seek to stop a player... Our players are just as likely to cause problems for France (...).
We have to find that balance."
Already 5️⃣ 𝙗𝙪𝙩𝙨 for @KMbappe in this 𝘾𝙤𝙪𝙥𝙚 𝙙𝙪 𝙈𝙤𝙣𝙙𝙚 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟮 🔥#FiersdetreBleus pic.twitter.com/ko3ngUAnoV
– French team ⭐⭐ (@equipedefrance) December 7, 2022
In addition to the English offensive armada – Bukayo Saka, Harry Kane, Phil Foden, Marcus Rashford, Mason Mount… – the Three Lions place a lot of hope in their talented midfielder Jude Bellingham to reduce the influence of the attack of the Blues, and Kylian Mbappé in particular.
“He is unique”, judge Steve Holland, who places him in the category of “very great players” both in terms of physical and technical attributes.
And he adds: “What (also) makes the best (players) is the mentality – the self-confidence, the assurance, the dynamism, the ambition to surpass oneself and to be competitive every day.
(...) Jude has these qualities”.
Basically, England fears Kylian Mbappé at the height of the danger he can represent, but it does not consider the match against France only under the prism of a tactical plan focused only on a single player.
"The match is not England against Mbappé, it's England against France", recalled Kyle Walker on Wednesday. "We don't just think of Mbappé.
It's a weapon in their arsenal which is very good, but they have other very good players who cannot be underestimated, who have won major titles and a World Cup".
In addition to the French phenomenon, the offensive line of the Blues has other in-form players who can also be decisive.
Olivier Giroud is an essential fulcrum in the tactical system of Didier Deschamps, Ousmane Dembélé has taken a step on his right wing and can dynamite the match at any time, and Antoine Griezmann – replaced in the middle by the French coach – takes advantage the collective of his unique vision of the game and his quality of precision passing.
The danger can come from anywhere on the side of the Blues… and it could be the same on the side of the Three Lions.
For Steve Holland, the England-France match “is 50-50, with special players who can suddenly produce something out of nothing.”
Kylian Mbappé is of the caliber of those players who can seal the fate of a meeting on an action.
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