World Cup
French coach’s praise for Kylian Mbappé shatters dictator myth
In a packed stadium, the French side celebrated as Kylian Mbappé lifted his head after the final whistle, while coach Didier Deschamps praised the forward, insisting he is anything but a dictator. The moment captured the contrast between media criticism and the team’s internal admiration.
Twintig WK-duels, twintig goals underline Mbappé’s World Cup pedigree, with Lionel Messi sitting just ahead at twenty‑one goals. The statistic highlights the French striker’s relentless scoring record on the sport’s biggest stage.
Mbappé also found the net against Marokko in a 2‑0 victory, bringing his tally to eight goals in this tournament and adding three assists, a feat that mirrors Messi’s current output. The article even labels him the Google-favorietMbappé, underscoring his popularity.
“Hij wordt soms afgeschilderd als een soort dictator, maar hij is allesbehalve dat,” said bondscoach Didier Deschamps after the match, adding that the forward’s public image does not reflect reality and that the whole team follows his example.
Mbappé’s redemption mirrors Messi as France eyes World Cup semi‑final
At club level, Mbappé endured a difficult season with Real Madrid, scoring twenty‑one times in La Liga but shouldering blame from dissatisfied fans for the team’s lack of trophies, with some even calling him a stoorzender or dictator. The French star suffered a knock in the 77th minute, but quickly dismissed concerns, saying, “Ik kreeg een tik op mijn enkel, maar het valt mee gelukkig,” showing his resilience despite the injury. His performance earned him man of the match honours, thanks to a goal and an assist, and he remarked, “We gaan de wedstrijd tussen Spanje en België kijken om te zien tegen wie we spelen,” indicating the team’s focus on upcoming challenges. Mbappé’s involvement in at least ten goals this World Cup mirrors Gerd Müller’s 1970 record of ten goals and three assists, while his eight‑goal, three‑assist haul matches his output in Qatar 2022. Meanwhile, Ismael Saibari will miss Morocco’s quarter‑final against Frankrijk, a notable absentee as the tournament progresses.