Kylian Mbappe, the highly anticipated star of the Euro 2024 tournament, has expressed his disappointment with France’s performance, calling it a “failure.” This comes as a surprise, considering Mbappe’s previous success at the World Cup and the high expectations placed on him. In the 2018 World Cup, Mbappe shone as a teenager, scoring four goals and helping France win the title. He followed this up with an impressive eight goals in the 2022 World Cup, including a hat-trick in the final. However, his performance at Euro 2020 was lackluster, with Mbappe failing to score and missing a crucial penalty in the shootout against Switzerland.
In Germany for Euro 2024, Mbappe struggled once again, only managing to score one penalty in the group-stage draw against Poland. Despite having nine shots on target throughout the tournament, he created only three chances for his teammates. Former England defender Rio Ferdinand criticized Mbappe’s lack of impact in the final third, stating that his assist for Randal Kolo Muani’s goal against Spain was the only quality moment from France. This subpar performance is a far cry from Mbappe’s statistics at the World Cup, where he averages 1.11 goals and assists per 90 minutes compared to just 0.32 in the Euros.
One possible explanation for Mbappe’s underwhelming display could be his broken nose, which he sustained in France’s opening match against Austria. The injury forced him to miss a game and wear a mask upon his return. The mask seemed to cause discomfort for Mbappe, as he was seen adjusting it during several matches before eventually discarding it for the Spain match. When asked about the impact of the injury, Mbappe simply stated, “It was everything.” While manager Didier Deschamps acknowledged that the mask was an issue, he emphasized that no single player should be solely blamed for the team’s performance.
Looking ahead, Mbappe will be joining Real Madrid after completing his dream move this summer. With the Champions League title as his next goal, he will be part of an impressive attacking line-up alongside Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Jr, and Rodrygo. Mbappe plans to take a well-deserved holiday before returning with renewed strength and determination in his new environment under the guidance of Carlo Ancelotti.
In conclusion, Kylian Mbappe’s disappointing performance at Euro 2024 has raised questions about his ability to replicate his success in international tournaments outside of the World Cup. While his broken nose may have affected his performance, it is clear that Mbappe fell short of expectations. However, with his move to Real Madrid and the opportunity to compete in the Champions League, Mbappe has a chance to prove himself once again on the biggest stage of European football.