News Mania Desk/ Agnibeena Ghosh/9th June 2024
As France heads into Euro 2024, they are widely considered the top contenders to win the championship. However, much of their success may hinge on whether Kylian Mbappe can remain undistracted by his club future. The speculation surrounding Mbappe’s potential move from Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) to Real Madrid has dominated headlines in France and Spain for months. The 25-year-old’s commitment to PSG in the final months of the season was uncertain, and his performances appeared to lack his usual sharpness. Despite this, Mbappe still managed to score 44 goals for his club in the recently concluded season.
France’s coach, Didier Deschamps, remains confident that Mbappe will be fully prepared and at his best for the European Championship. “The context around the France team is different,” Deschamps said as the squad began their preparations at Clairefontaine, their training base located an hour outside Paris. He emphasized that Mbappe sees himself as part of a collective unit, with significant responsibilities both at his club and with the national team.
Mbappe’s record with the national team is impressive, with 46 goals in 77 appearances, including a memorable hat-trick in the 2022 World Cup final against Argentina, although France lost on penalties. However, Mbappe and the French team have less fond memories of the last European Championship three years ago. Mbappe failed to score in the tournament, and France was eliminated in the last 16 by Switzerland, with Mbappe missing the decisive penalty in the shootout.
Before that, Mbappe had just begun his rise at Monaco and had not yet debuted for France when they lost the Euro 2016 final to Portugal on home soil. Deschamps, who led France to victory in the 2018 World Cup, acknowledged the high expectations placed on his team. “Demands on us are so high because we have made so much progress,” he said. “After the World Cup, there is nothing bigger than the Euros. And there is some logic to the idea that we are among the favourites, like other teams, after everything we have done.”
France breezed through the qualifying rounds, winning seven consecutive games before drawing 2-2 with Greece after their spot in the finals was already secured. Despite this strong performance, recent friendly matches have reminded the team not to become complacent. France was defeated 2-0 by Germany at home in March and struggled to a 3-2 victory against Chile shortly after.
As France prepares for Euro 2024, the focus will be on maintaining their strong form and ensuring that Mbappe is fully engaged and free from distractions. The team’s collective effort and Mbappe’s leadership will be crucial in their quest to lift the trophy and fulfill their potential as one of Europe’s elite football nations.
