For this first time at this year’s World Cup, it was Kylian Mbappé who faced the press in France’s pre-match media duties as the team geared up for their second group stage match against Iraq.
The captain, who kicked off his summer campaign with a double against Senegal last week, mainly answered questions about the rotating frontline he now leads. While he is now France’s established number nine, Mbappé insisted that he would be comfortable playing across the attack:
“I’m feeling good, physically and mentally. I’ve played one World Cup on the right wing, one on the left, and at the moment I’m starting up front. It shows that the position I play in is not that important, it’s more about the type of players I’m with, how the team attacks and defends, and the opponent.”
Les Bleus’ all-time top scorer also sought to defend Ousmane Dembélé, who was criticised for his performance against Senegal. “I rewatched the match twice, the first time on my own and then with the staff. He was the best of the four attacking players in the first half,” Mbappé argued. “He’s the one who was best at making our play fluid.”
“In the second half Michael [Olise] and I were decisive, but he also contributed. On the first goal, Michael is able to make the pass because Ousmane pulls Niakhaté out of position and I’m able to move into the space. You don’t see that on the statistics sheet, but it’s just as important.”
“He’s very calm about it. He’s the reigning Ballon d’Or winner. He has the full confidence of the squad and of the coaching staff, and he’s a very important player for us. He’s been with the national team for many years, he knows how it all works, so there aren’t any issues and I’m sure that he’ll keep moving forward tomorrow. Don’t forget that he was also injured at the end of the season.”
