EXCLUSIVE | Michael Owen: ‘Kylian Mbappé is the best player in the world’ | OneFootball

Kylian Mbappé will use the recent criticism of him as fire to help Les Bleus to a great World Cup, said Michael Owen, the face of Casino.org in the UK, a leading comparison website helping Brits find online casinos that suit their preferences, when speaking exclusively to Get French Football News.

Ahead of the global footballing showpiece which started this week, former England striker Owen gave this thoughts on France’s strikers, the tournament’s other great attackers – and who he is tipping to win the World Cup.

You were of course one of the great strikers of your day so in a good position to judge – what do you think of France’s attacking players? Who impresses you and would you have found a place for Hugo Ekitike in the starting line-up if he hadn’t been injured?

France have so many options in their attacking line up. Arguably the best in the World Cup. Kylian Mbappé is the best player in the world for me, so there is no one better to have in your attacking line up than him. You have Ousmane Dembélé from Paris Saint-Germain, who is a very good player, Champions League winner again and a top striker in world football. Bradley Barcola is another top striker as well. So, so many options and Michael Olise on the right hand side as well. I was impressed with Ekitike at Liverpool in this first season, I really liked his work rate, finishing and all-round pace with which he ran at defenders. With France’s strength in depth, I’m not sure he would have started, but it’s about freshness and he would have made a big impact for sure.

Kylian Mbappé has had an interesting season – more than 40 goals but maybe scapegoated for Real Madrid’s trophyless season. You know what it’s like to play there and the expectations around the club. How do you think he is handling it and do you think it could affect his form at the World Cup?

Mbappé feels no pressure. You look at what he has done on the biggest stage of world football, and I don’t see anything affecting him at this World Cup at all. To the contrary, I think this will only fire him up to succeed in this World Cup even more. He is a world class player, has shown it on the biggest stage of domestic and European football, played in front of the world week in week out and delivers great moments and delivers in the best way possible, by scoring important goals.

France’s third group match pits Mbappé against Erling Haaland. If you were picking your current world XI, would they both make your team?

Mbappé yes, but it depends on the formation as to whether Haaland would be included in the current world XI. You also have Harry Kane to think about here as he would be in with a big shout. To fit Mbappé and Haaland, you would then play Mbappe off the left hand side, enabling Haaland to play as the central striker. So between Haaland and Kane I would say and it’s a tough one as Kane has been brilliant for Bayern Munich this season.

The last two tournament top scorers have been Mbappé and Kane. Do you think it could be between them again, plus maybe Haaland? What other potential candidates are there?

Yes I do. But with the nature of this World Cup, you could see a surprise more than ever as with the diluted tournament, you could see a 4-0 or 5-0 by a team over a minnow, and then if a striker scores a hat-trick then they only may need a couple more to win the Golden Boot. So it’s usually the top teams who go far in the tournament who have a top striker, so Mbappé Kane, Julián Alvarez will be up there for sure, but don’t be surprised if someone tops the charts who isn’t one of the favourites.

You came to global prominence in the 1998 World Cup. Who are your tips to be the breakout young stars this time around?

I think Lamine Yamal is one that has to be mentioned. He is very young, this is his first World Cup, so he definitely has to be the one who will take the world stage and make a name for himself. With so many countries, there could be a surprise young talent who does something great and has their moment, but I would say Yamal would be the one. For England, we don’t have really young players, but you have many of our top forward players who can make a real name for themselves.

We have to ask… whose goal against Argentina was better? Yours in 1998 or Benjamin Pavard’s in 2018?

I would have to say my goal, because of how it’s been remembered all these years later and it has really been something special to me that everyone remembers that goal. Pavard’s goal was outstanding too, a special strike in a crucial game, but I will go with mine.

Finally – who is going to win the World Cup?

I think England will do well. I don’t see them winning due to the humidity, heat and fatigue issues they may face, so you have to look at France, Spain as the favourites and I side towards France with their all-round power, strength, skill and quality all over the squad. I believe Germany can have a good tournament as well.

GFFN | Jeremy Smith