Kylian Mbappe will look to channel his inner Pele as France fight Morocco in the semi-finals of the World Cup
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Kylian Mbappe and Pele
French football sensation Kylian Mbappe and Brazilian legend Pele have two things in common. Mbappe and Pele delivered for their national teams when needed and also won the prestigious FIFA World Cup at a young age. While the Brazilian became a Cup winner at 17, Mbappe realized his dream at 19. Despite both achieving successes at a young age, Pele won a second consecutive World Cup four years later. He cemented his legacy by winning a third in 1970, something which fans still rave about.
Another football icon looking to tread the same path is Kylian Mbappe. While the French international already beat Pele to become the highest goal scorer under the age of 24, he also has a great chance winning his second World Cup. Currently, France and Mbappe are in the semi-finals of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Throughout the tournament, Mbappe put on star performances for Les Bleus. During the five games he has played till now, the 23-year-old has scored five goals and recorded one assist. Mbappe is in contention to finish as the top scorer and win the golden boot, provided France go the full distance.
Even though the PSG forward is enjoying the attention, he has brilliant teammates who have helped France reach the final four. While talented Hugo Lorris finds a place between the sticks, Dayot Upamecano and Raphael Varane will be a shield to the keeper. The French defense looks water-tight, which makes a big difference when you do a SWOT analysis. Kylian Mbappe, Oliver Giroud, Antoine Griezmann, and Ousmane Dembélé are capable of breaching any defense to score decisive goals for the defending champions.
Leading up to the tournament, France suffered setbacks due to injuries. However, they did not let it stop them and have continued to toll like a juggernaut in Qatar. France managed to top Group F, beating Poland and England in the knockout stages to qualify for the last four. As the men in blue now have a chance to make history by becoming the second team to win consecutive World Cup, they must first overcome the a tough Moroccan test.
Kylian Mbappe and France need to be aware of the in-form Morocco
At the start of the World Cup, if someone told someone Morocco would reach the finals, you would probably have been laughing. However, if you did, you might now be called prediction king. A massive underdog throughout the tournament, Morocco proved many wrong to become the first African nation to qualify for the semi-finals of the FIFA World Cup. In doing so, Morocco created many beautiful memories and treated the global audience to a brilliant display of football.
Throughout the tournament, Morocco performed brilliantly by proving their mettle against some of the toughest teams in the world. In their opening game, Morocco showed promise as they played out a draw against fellow semi-finalists Croatia. However, things only went upward for the African nation since then. Morocco secured a 2-0 victory over Belgium, after which they beat Canada to emerge as toppers in Group F. But, the group stage is not where Morocco played their best brand of football.
The knockout stages of the 2022 FIFA World Cup saw Morocco rock. Not only did the players show teamwork, they also exhibited character as they beat some mighty teams to book a place in the top four. In the last 16 of the tournament, the African nation faced a young yet talented Spanish side. While many expected Spain to knock Morocco out, they were left surprised as ‘the Atlas lions’ won via penalties. Humiliation for Europe did not end there as in the quarter-finals, the African nation once again knocked out another European giant by beating Portugal, courtesy a goal by star striker Youssef En-Nesyri.
Like En-Nesyri, Morocco has seen many stars emerge in the tournament. Achraf Hakimi, Romain Sais, Yassine Bounou, and Hakim Ziyech add depth and versatility to the Morrocan squad. Despite having a foreign flavour in the team, the Moroccan players have displayed immense love and passion while playing for their country. Watching the players celebrate with their families has been a visual treat. It will be interesting to see if the trend continues.
Also Read: Did Morocco’s En-Nesyri break Cristiano Ronaldo’s longest leap record at 2022 FIFA World Cup?
To sum up, Morocco’s performance in the World Cup has shocked many. Some call it luck, but the display by Morocco stretches way beyond that. Against France, it will be interesting to see if Morocco reaches the finals and go on to become the first African World Champion. Or, will France win and look to become consecutive World Cup winners? Too early to answer that. When these teams take the pitch, fans will know their answer. Over to the semi-finals.
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Varun Anand Bhat
(106 Articles Published)