Kylian Mbappe, captain of the French national football team, has emphasized the importance of their recent 2-0 friendly defeat to Germany. He views this loss as a crucial wake-up call ahead of Euro 2024, where Les Bleus are considered strong contenders. Reflecting on the match against the European Championship hosts in Lyon, Mbappe stressed the need to avoid similar performances in high-pressure games to prevent major disappointment.
Germany’s quick lead, established by Florian Wirtz’s goal just eight seconds into the game and solidified by Kai Havertz’s second-half goal, exposed some weaknesses in the French team. This defeat marked only the second loss for France since their 2022 World Cup final defeat to Argentina in Qatar. The other loss was a 2-1 friendly against Germany last September.
Mbappe, speaking before France’s upcoming friendly against Chile in Marseille, acknowledged the need for a strong response and emphasized that their recent performance fell short of expectations. Despite reaching three out of the last four major tournament finals and winning the UEFA Nations League in 2021, Mbappe cautioned against complacency. He referenced past instances where pre-tournament form did not guarantee success.
Highlighting the unpredictable nature of friendly matches, Mbappe pointed out that France had lost twice to Germany in friendlies but had never lost to them in competitive matches. As Euro 2024 approaches, France, grouped with the Netherlands and Austria, Kylian Mbappe stays committed to delivering his best despite potential jeers from Marseille’s crowd, known for rivalry with his club, PSG.
Despite the potential reception, Mbappe remains resolute to give his best and is ready for any crowd reaction. He will return to Marseille with PSG for a league game following the friendly encounter.
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