France coach Didier Deschamps has commended Kylian Mbappé’s mental strength following the team’s 2-0 victory over Morocco in the World Cup quarter-final. Mbappé, who scored the opening goal, had earlier missed a penalty in the first half but recovered to help his team secure a spot in the semi-finals.
Deschamps acknowledged the challenges faced during the match, particularly the missed chances, including Mbappé’s penalty. Despite this, the coach highlighted Mbappé’s unwavering confidence. “It was tough today with the penalty, all the chances we didn’t take,” Deschamps stated. “But when it’s Kylian, there’s no problem, he never hesitates – even though he’d already missed a chance.”
Mbappé’s performance drew praise from Deschamps, who addressed perceptions about the player. “Many people say that Kylian is a dictator, that he only thinks of himself. But he’s the captain and he’s exemplary,” Deschamps added, emphasizing the player’s leadership qualities.
Match Details and Player Status
The match saw France dominate from the outset. Mbappé broke the deadlock, and Ousmane Dembélé sealed the victory with a second goal six minutes later, putting the game beyond doubt. This win marks France’s third consecutive semi-final appearance in the tournament.
Towards the end of the match, Mbappé was substituted in the 77th minute due to what he described as a “minor ankle injury.” He was seen raising his arm to the bench and lying on the pitch momentarily before walking off and waving to the crowd. Television footage later showed him with ice on his right foot while on the bench.
Following the game, Mbappé reassured fans about his condition. “I have a minor ankle injury, but I’m completely fine,” he said, explaining that a teammate was in a better position to play the remaining minutes. Deschamps also provided an update, confirming that Mbappé has “a slight pain in his ankle, but nothing serious.”
Another player, Manu Koné, was also withdrawn from the game due to “a blow to the knee” and “some cramps.” Despite these concerns, Mbappé is not expected to be a doubt for the upcoming semi-final.
Morocco’s Perspective and Future Outlook
Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi reflected on the disparity between the two teams. He acknowledged France’s strength, noting, “They ended up being in a comfort zone.” Ouahbi admitted he considered making substitutions earlier but decided against it, hoping to see how France would react if they hadn’t scored.
Ouahbi praised France as a “great team” with “excellent players” and “very talented forwards.” He highlighted their consistent performance in recent World Cups, having reached the last two finals. “They have a lot of talent and players who make the effort on the pitch. They are a very solid team who are very attuned to playing in transition,” Ouahbi observed.
Despite the loss, Ouahbi maintained a forward-looking perspective for Morocco. He emphasized the importance of not panicking and focusing on areas for improvement. “Let’s see what we can improve and move forward. We have a good group of young players. We have a good federation. We have a king who invests a lot which is why we are here,” he stated. Ouahbi also expressed optimism about potentially beating France in the next World Cup.
France will now look ahead to their semi-final match, where they could face either Spain or Belgium.
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Source: theguardian.com
