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The driving force behind France’s semi-final win over Morocco in 2022, Antoine Griezmann, was watching on from the stands this time as Les Bleus powered past the Atlas Lions to reach a third consecutive World Cup semi-final.
The 35-year-old, who recently completed a move to Orlando City, had not attended a France match since his international retirement in 2024 following a brief stint as vice-captain.
When Hugo Lloris stepped down after the last World Cup, the captaincy had seemed destined to be handed down to Griezmann, at the time Didier Deschamps’ most loyal soldier. In what was arguably the most-contested move of his time in charge, the head coach handed the armband to Kylian Mbappé instead.
The decision to give the then 24-year-old the captaincy became the subject of a national debate. Griezmann himself would go on to admit that being overlooked for the role after nearly a decade of service had been a bitter pill to swallow.
Three years later, though, as Mbappé led France into a third consecutive World Cup semi-final with a goal – his eighth of the tournament – in the 2-0 win against Morocco, any arguments against his appointment have dissipated. Still only 27 years old, the forward has now embraced an all-encompassing role as the team’s leader, on top of his goalscoring duties.
One of the overarching themes of Mbappé’s World Cup has been his seniority. The captain is one of two players in this year’s squad to have been involved in the previous two campaigns along with Ousmane Dembélé. N’Golo Kanté and Lucas Hernandez, the other two World Cup winners in the squad, both missed out on the tournament in Qatar because of injuries.
In his various media appearances at this year’s World Cup, Mbappé has been keen to highlight the experience he has accrued from playing in two full editions already. As the team’s progress in the United States increasingly draws comparisons with previous French teams, the forward has sought to bring some perspective.
“I’ve been world champion and I’ve been runner-up, and this team is neither one nor the other,” he said before leaving the Boston Stadium after the win over Morocco. “As it stands it’s not the best team I’ve played in, but it might be the one with the most potential, the one with which we can look to the future more easily. This is a team that we can dream with, although the best teams are those who win.”
His cautious approach stems from his experience as part of star-studded French attacks in past tournaments. Les Bleus entered Euro 2020 with a forward line made up of Mbappé, Griezmann and Karim Benzema, one which L’Équipe labelled “the envy of every country” on a pre-tournament front page, only to crash out against Switzerland.
“We’re well aware of the potential of this team, but that’s not what wins you matches,” Mbappé added.
“We’re confident when we step out onto the pitch, but we still have to prove ourselves before being called invincible, or whatever superlative you want to use.”
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Mbappé’s image back home may have taken a hit after his acrimonious exit from Paris Saint-Germain but support for the Real Madrid man is unquestionable when he pulls on a France shirt.
The apparent ease with which he handles opposition defences, the media spotlight (both positive and negative), and leadership duties within the squad has only continued to vindicate Deschamps’s decision three years ago. The 27-year-old has fully embraced his role as a guide to the newcomers in the team.
One of the ways in which his mentorship manifests itself is in the reverence he insists his teammates show the World Cup as football’s grandest occasiontournament. “As a player, nothing is bigger than playing in the World Cup. We’re well aware of that and we’re trying to get that across to the younger players,” he said on Thursday evening. Few are better-placed than Mbappé, now on 20 goals in 20 World Cup matches, to emphasise that.
“This country has a history in the World Cup,” the forward he went on, almost with an air of solemnity. “They need to know about it, and know the pressure that comes with playing for France.”
Les Bleus have not buckled under that pressure despite their credentials as tournament favourites only growing in the past few weeks. As France prepare for their semi-final in Dallas, Mbappé will be keen to make sure his younger teammates stay level-headed in order to fulfil the potential he speaks of.
