Kylian Mbappé’s return to the French national football team has not gone as he had hoped. The media response has been overwhelmingly negative. „This was ultimately a real disappointment, to put it mildly,“ stated Le Figaro after the 0-2 defeat in the Nations League quarter-final first leg against Croatia. This match marked the 26-year-old captain’s first appearance in the national jersey since September 9, 2024.
Alongside the Real Madrid star, Paris Saint-Germain’s Ousmane Dembélé was also heavily criticized. „These two men are the main culprits, but they are not alone, as the French offense was non-existent on Thursday,“ continued Le Figaro. Despite having more ball possession, corner kicks, and shots on goal than the effective Croatians, the French team rarely created clear chances.
System Errors Under Coach Deschamps
L’Équipe commented that neither Ousmane Dembélé nor Kylian Mbappé could replicate their impressive club performances for the national team. The publication pointed out two significant errors in Coach Didier Deschamps‘ system: a „stubborn defense“ and a „failed offensive organization.“
In Split, the Croatian team secured their victory with goals from Ante Budimir in the 26th minute and Ivan Perisic in the 45th+1 minute, dampening Mbappé’s spirits in his 87th international cap. While the 2018 World Cup winner showed effort and had several opportunities, it was noted that he lacked efficiency: „He shot often (six times) and hit the target frequently, but he was not effective,“ remarked L’Équipe.
Expectations are high for the star forward, who has gone scoreless in his last six international appearances. His last goal for Les Bleus came at the end of June, when he scored his 48th international goal from a penalty in a 1-1 draw against Poland.
Off the pitch, he faced pressure last October after local media reported investigations related to rape allegations following a trip to Sweden. However, these investigations were closed in December due to a lack of evidence.