France begin their World Cup campaign carrying huge expectations once again. Les Bleus reached the final in each of the last two tournaments and remain among the favourites this summer.
Much of that confidence comes from the presence of Kylian Mbappe. The Real Madrid forward has become the face of French football over the last decade.
Mbappe played a central role in France’s runs to the last two World Cup finals. The 27-year-old now arrives at another tournament with history within touching distance.
However, preparations for the competition have not gone entirely to plan. Questions have surrounded the captain both on and off the pitch.
Despite scoring 42 goals for Real Madrid last season, Mbappe endured a difficult finish to the campaign. Many critics blamed him for Madrid’s failure to win silverware.
His struggles have also extended to international football. The forward has failed to score in his last three appearances for France.
Off-field issues have added further scrutiny ahead of the tournament. According to The Sun, teammate Ousmane Dembele confronted Mbappe over his defensive work rate.
The alleged disagreement created fresh headlines inside the France camp. Mbappe also attracted attention after France’s friendly victory over Northern Ireland.
The forward left the national team camp shortly after the final whistle. Although he received permission to leave, his trip back to Madrid raised questions. Footage from inside the France camp created another talking point.
N’Golo Kante appeared to greet every member of the squad before a friendly against Ivory Coast. However, the former Chelsea midfielder did not exchange greetings with Mbappe.
Reports suggest tensions between the pair date back to a disagreement over the captaincy earlier this year. Despite the speculation, France manager Didier Deschamps remains relaxed.
The veteran coach expects his captain to deliver when it matters most. Deschamps revealed Mbappe had joked about saving his goals for the World Cup.
While reports of tensions continue to dominate headlines, Deschamps believes his star player is ready to respond on the biggest stage.
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