Kylian Mbappe has struggled at Euro 2024, scoring just one goal so far as France prepare for their semi-final against Spain, with team-mate Adrien Rabiot criticising his captain
Adrien Rabiot has risked the wrath of Kylian Mbappe again after admitting his disappointment over the superstar’s performances at Euro 2024.
Mbappe is widely considered to be one of the world’s best players, but he has struggled for form at this summer’s tournament. He suffered a broken nose in France’s opening game and has scored just one goal so far, with that being a penalty against Poland.
This is the first major tournament in which Mbappe is leading Les Bleus as captain, having taken over the armband after the 2022 World Cup. But he has struggled to inspire his side, with France scoring just three goals over the tournament so far.
They have reached the semi-finals, though, and play Spain on Tuesday for a place in Sunday’s final. But Rabiot believes Mbappe and fellow top star Antoine Greizmann need to improve if France are to defeat La Roja.
“This is a team game and even if they are having some troubles, we have reached the semifinal. Team spirit is important and winning as a team is more important than individuals,” he said.
“For Kylian and Antoine, maybe their legs aren’t as fresh as they could be, but we are 100% behind them. We have blind faith in them. They are players can change a game at any point. When we have the captain [Mbappé] or Antoine experiencing a rough patch, it’s fine, we are there to support them.
“But obviously it would be easier if Kylian and Antoine were at the top of their game, which has not been the case so far. I think everyone is surprised because we know what he [Griezmann] is capable of.
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“We saw what he did at the last World Cup, when he was possibly at his peak. I don’t know how to explain this spell, maybe physically he is not doing as well. Obviously we have [high] expectations with Antoine, we expect a lot more from him because he is capable of giving a lot more. But are we able to win without a great Antoine? We have a high level team.”
Rabiot’s comments risk reigniting a feud that played out between his family and Mbappe’s parents as France were dumped out of Euro 2020. Les Bleus took on Switzerland in the last 16, but were taken to penalties.
Mbappe crucially saw his spot-kick saved by Swiss keeper Yann Sommer, seeing France crash out of the tournament. As the players commiserated with themselves on the pitch, in the stands Rabiot’s mother Veronique lashed out at Mbappe’s father.
Footage circulated on social media showed the duo apparently in a heated confrontation. Reports in the French press claimed Veronique labelled the forward “arrogant” and was telling his father to speak to him. Rabiot later sought to play down the reports of a clash between his family and Mbappe’s. But the Real Madrid star may not take too kindly to being publicly called out by the Juventus midfielder.
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