PHILADELPHIA : Kylian Mbappe believes France possess a more attack-minded side than the teams that reached the last two World Cup finals, with the captain backing Les Bleus’ formidable forward line to become even more dangerous as the tournament progresses.
France can secure a place in the round of 32 with a match to spare if they defeat Iraq in their second Group I fixture on Monday, having opened their campaign with a 3-1 victory over Senegal.
Mbappe scored twice in that win, while Michael Olise impressed in a dynamic second-half display that showcased the depth of attacking talent available to coach Didier Deschamps.
“This is a more attacking team than in 2018 and 2022, a team that is much more geared towards going forward,” Mbappe told reporters on Sunday.
“The second half was already a glimpse of what we can do when we’re in good technical conditions.”
France won the World Cup in 2018 and finished runners-up in 2022, but Mbappe believes the current squad has greater offensive variety thanks to the combination of himself, Olise, Ousmane Dembele and Desire Doue.
“We had that connection with Michael because the four of us in attack managed to be perfectly coordinated in terms of movement, positioning and rotations,” Mbappe said.
“With this type of movement and rotation, maybe tomorrow it will be two other attacking players who shine more. The advantage of this team is having so much talent. We are very aware of the quality we have up front.”
MBAPPE BACKS DEMBELE
Mbappe also defended Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele against criticism following the Senegal match, insisting the winger’s contribution extended beyond goals and assists.
“In the first half, he’s the best attacker out of the four. He’s the one who makes our play flow the most,” Mbappe said after reviewing the game.
“Then in the second half, Michael and I were decisive, but Ousmane also contributed.”
The France captain highlighted Dembele’s movement as a key factor in creating space for teammates after the break.
“That doesn’t show up in the statistics, but it’s very important because otherwise we wouldn’t have scored,” he said.
“Ousmane is very calm. He’s the Ballon d’Or winner. He has the confidence of the team and the staff. I’m sure from tomorrow onwards he will continue moving forward and grow stronger.”
Dembele arrives at the World Cup following a stellar club season in which he scored 35 goals in all competitions and helped Paris St Germain win the Champions League for the first time.
Deschamps acknowledged, however, that the 29-year-old is still adapting to a different tactical role with the national team.
“He is really playing further forward at his club, which is not the case here,” Deschamps said.
“Those are some adjustments we have to make.”
A victory over Iraq would guarantee France a place in the knockout stage before their final group match against Norway on Friday.
