Paris Saint-Germain striker Kylian Mbappe, the most expensive teenage footballer in history,
excelled as France beat Argentina in a thrilling encounter in the World Cup Round of 16, scoring
twice to become the first teenager to do so since Pele.
Mbappe may have only made 44 league starts prior to Russia 2018, but he has taken to
the World Cup with the confidence of a much more experienced player.
His accerelation and broken field running won France’s penalty against Argentina,
before he scored two goals himself, the first a cute strike from close, the second a drilled
low shot from Olivier Giroud’s deft through pass.
Mbappe has been playing on the right hand side of France’s 4-2-3-1.
His ability to stretch defences is crucial, as Didier Deschamps has been using Blaise
Matuidi on the left wing, and while he is capable of pushing up, the Juventus midfielder
tends to sit off and tuck in, giving France a lop-sided look.
Without Mbappe pushing forwards, it would be all too easy for this to become a 4-4-1-1,
with Giroud isolated, but the youngster’s pace and direct running for the most part
solves this.
Mbappe has been working especially well with both Giroud and Paul Pogba.
Pogba’s direct running and passing style from the right hand of France’s midfield
either allows Mbappe to run into space ahead of him, as defenders are caught between closing
Pogba and marking Mbappe, or lets Mbappe run in behind defenders as Pogba seeks him out
with a forward pass.
Giroud, a selfless link player as well as a goal threat, can play Mbappe in with through
balls or flicks, and his physical presence generates space for the winger to move into
as Giroud occupies markers.
Mbappe also links well with Benjamin Pavard on the right, dropping off to take a pass
and then find Pavard on the over-lap, or turning and running himself with Pavard making ground
on the outside – this creates indecision in the defence again, as markers do not know
whether to close in on Mbappe to stop him going all the way, or stick with Pavard for
when Mbappe passes to him.
France are at their best when they play vertically, with Pogba driving forwards, protected or
assisted by Kante and Matuidi, Antoine Griezmann acting either as a link or running into space
himself, and Giroud the focal point, ready to receive a pass or occupy markers.
This suits Mbappe perfctely, as he can drive into space, either moving from out to in or
vice versa.
France’s pace on the front foot is their most effective weapon, and Mbappe is the most
dangerous of their players.
Despite his young age, Mbappe already has a superb record, both as a goal scorer and
assisting others.
His break-through season was in 2016/17 at Monaco, and he did not hit those heights again
this season, but at Paris Saint-Germain he has to contend with Neymar’s need to be
the main man, which has restricted the service he gets to a degree.
It’s not a surprise that he flourishes in a more selfless side like France, with Pogba,
Kante, and Giroud all willing allies.
Nonetheless, Mbappe has weighed in with 13 league goals this season and a further four
in the Champions League.
He can bring other players in to the game too, and his driving runs produce space for
players running in from deep, or create chances from crosses.
For a player who is so direct, Mbappe also has a good success rate with his dribbles,
showing that far from being simply a quick player, he has the skill levels to match.
He has been less effective with the ball at feet this season, but he is no longer such
an unknown threat; he has become a marked man, doubled up on by defenders, which means
this is understandable.Kylian Mbappe isn’t the first teenager to announce himself to
a wider audience at a World Cup, but while some have flickered before finding obscurity,
he looks destined to join the ranks of the world’s great players.
While his physical attributes are part of this, Mbappe has huge amounts of skill, awareness,
and a temperament for the big stage.
France have a real talent in their ranks and, so far, they are getting the best from him.