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.
