Deschamps Defends Mbappé
Didier Deschamps publicly came to the defense of Kylian Mbappé. Criticism surrounding his recent performances and his role as a center forward has followed France in the lead-up to the World Cup, but the French manager was unequivocal: in his view, the team is always stronger with its captain on the pitch.
“I have always thought so, and I still think so today, that the French national team is stronger with him in the squad. Things have not always been easy for Kylian. At Euro 2021, he arrived after six very difficult months at PSG and without much continuity. More recently, an injury prevented him from performing at the highest level of his abilities,” Deschamps explained.
However, beyond the manager’s comments, the real debate is tactical. The question is not whether Mbappé should play, but how France can maximize his strengths without sacrificing collective balance.
Mbappé’s Evolution and France’s Tactical Challenge
For years, the French star was devastating when attacking from the left wing. He received the ball in wide areas, took on defenders at speed, and found space to exploit his greatest weapon: acceleration. Today, both at Real Madrid and with the French national team, he is increasingly operating closer to goal and occupying center-forward positions.
It is a natural evolution given his goalscoring ability, but it has also reduced some of his impact in open-field transitions.
This is where one of Deschamps’ biggest challenges emerges. France boasts an extraordinary generation of attacking talent. Ousmane Dembélé, Michael Olise, Désiré Doué, Rayan Cherki, and Marcus Thuram all provide different solutions in the final third. The challenge is to build a system in which Mbappé serves as the finisher without disconnecting the players capable of supplying him.
France Seeks to Get the Best Out of Its Captain
When France creates width through the flanks and combines it with quick support runs in central areas, Mbappé receives the ball in advantageous situations. When he is forced to play with his back to goal for extended periods, his influence decreases.
That is why the debate surrounding his position can be misleading. The issue is not where he appears on the team sheet, but how the ball reaches him.
Deschamps understands this perfectly, which is why he continues to back his captain. France may have one of the deepest squads in the tournament, but none of its stars alters an opponent’s game plan as much as Mbappé. As long as rivals continue adjusting their marking schemes, defensive coverages, and tactical approaches to contain him, the captain will remain the centerpiece of the French project.
Because in France, the debate is not whether Mbappé should play. The real question is whether Les Bleus can find the collective formula that allows their biggest star to make the difference when it matters most.
