After being withdrawn following an injury scare, Kylian Mbappe moved to ease concerns: “I am fine, I just took a knock to the ankle.” The captain is now fully focused on leading his country.
Kylian Mbappe broke the deadlock against Morocco, paving the way for what became a gripping quarter-final victory. However, alarm bells rang when the forward went to ground and requested a substitution. Fortunately, the player himself has since confirmed there is no cause for panic.
“I’m fine; it was just a blow to the ankle, nothing more. Mateta was in better condition than I was to navigate those final fifteen minutes,” the Bondy-born star explained.
Nothing will prevent him from featuring in the semi-final, a challenge he is already relishing: “We know there is only one way to truly relax, and that is by winning. We are in the semi-finals and we are very happy, but there is still a long road ahead. We know what awaits us is even tougher than what we have already endured, but we are ready for it. It doesn’t matter if it’s Belgium or Spain; it’s a semi-final and it will always be difficult.”
To reach the final, the Real Madrid man intends to continue leading from the front. “Of course I feel good with France. This is a group I have a lot of affection for, with many long-term friends. Then there are the younger players who look to me as a senior figure. I have to set an example for the team, especially emotionally, because the footballing side is settled on the pitch. I’ve played more World Cup matches than anyone else in this squad. I know what it takes on this stage and I have to share that with my teammates,” he added.
Despite the talent at their disposal, Mbappe was candid about where this current crop stands in French history: “This side is not the strongest yet. I have been a world champion and a runner-up; this team has been neither. It has the most potential and is the easiest to build a future with. It has so much quality and makes you dream, but the best teams are those that win, and so far, I don’t see a gold trophy by my side.”
