Kylian Mbappé lights up France press conference before Iraq at World Cup | OneFootball

Kylian Mbappé, France’s captain, lit up Sunday’s press conference, projecting ambition while keeping the focus on the team before Iraq at the World Cup.

According to L'Équipe, it took place in the Philadelphia Eagles’ locker room, packed to the rafters. Mbappé arrived alone before Didier Deschamps, quipped about the cold air conditioning, then spoke for 17 minutes in French, Spanish and English, repeatedly steering questions to the collective.

Asked about Real Madrid’s trophyless season against Paris Saint-Germain’s success and what model his former club might embody, he said football copies winners, from Barcelona’s possession to Real’s front three, Bayern’s intensity and now PSG’s counter-pressing. He added that international football is different.

He won the World Cup in 2018 and lost the 2022 final despite a hat-trick against Argentina. He began this edition with two goals in the 3-1 win over Senegal last Tuesday. He said the real work starts today against Iraq, when he is due his 100th cap and could move closer to the record of 16, held by Miroslav Klose and Lionel Messi, two ahead of him.

He declined comparisons with Messi, naming him with Cristiano Ronaldo as the best, and made no demands over his position, stressing connections are more than statistics. Joking he will not play at 40, he said he feels at ease in the United States’ culture of boundless ambition. His aim is to win the final on 19 July in New Jersey, and few will mind if he returns to the microphone before then.

Source: L'Équipe