Mbappé embraced – After Kylian Mbappé scored in France’s World Cup round-of-32 win over Sweden at MetLife Stadium, the captain cut short his usual celebration to go straight to Didier Deschamps on the bench. The gesture came as Deschamps returned to the team following the death
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The moment Kylian Mbappé found the net just before halftime in France’s round of 32 win over Sweden at MetLife Stadium on Tuesday, the captain didn’t reach for one of his signature post-game routines.
Instead, he went straight to France’s bench. Mbappé, and the rest of the team, crossed to the sidelines to embrace Didier Deschamps after the coach returned to the group.
Deschamps had missed France’s final Group I match against Norway, then returned on Tuesday. He had gone back to France with his family following the death of his mother.
France’s schedule had already shifted around that absence. Deschamps left the team after its clean-sheet win over Iraq on Monday, June 22. Longtime France assistant Guy Stephan coached Deschamps’ spot in Les Bleus’ win over Norway. the result that clinched Group I for the reigning World Cup runners-up.
“I think that was important. ” France defender Malo Gusto said in the mixed zone after the game. describing the time the team had with Deschamps. “I think Kylian did that to support (our) coach, too. It was a tough time for him. It was up to us to return the favor. I think we did really well tonight.”.
Mbappé echoed the sentiment after the match. telling reporters. “There are things that are more important than a World Cup. more important than you.” He added. “But as I said. it’s in this group’s DNA to stick together. to really be united. We’re all behind coach, no matter what happens, no matter what’s going to happen. We’re all behind him, and we wanted him to know he wasn’t alone.”.
Mbappé’s night on the scoreboard matched the emotion around the bench. He scored two of France’s three goals. It gave him his third brace of the tournament and put his first-half strike in World Cup knockout-round history: it was his ninth goal in that stage. setting a tournament record for an individual player. His second-half goal moved him within one of Lionel Messi for the tournament’s all-time scoring record.
Heading into the round of 16, Mbappé has 18 World Cup goals.
France’s run has also stayed tightly linked to Deschamps, who has led the national team since taking over in 2012. The team has advanced to the round of 16 for the fourth consecutive World Cup. and each of those appearances has come under Deschamps. Under him, France has reached at least the quarterfinals and has won one World Cup title, which came in 2018. That makes it the second World Cup he brought home to France; he won one as a player in 1998.
France will now play Paraguay in the round of 16 on Saturday, July 4, at 5 p.m. ET, in Philadelphia at Lincoln Financial Field.
Kylian Mbappé Didier Deschamps France vs Sweden MetLife Stadium World Cup round of 32 Malo Gusto Guy Stephan World Cup knockout record Lincoln Financial Field France vs Paraguay