Kylian Mbappé’s promise could alter France’s attacking setup
The Real Madrid striker admitted that he has to improve in one particular aspect as France are looking for their second World Cup trophy in the last decade
A look at France’s attacking options as they prepare for their 2026 World Cup opener could send shivers down the spine of even the best defences in the tournament. Ousmane Dembélé, Michael Olise, Rayan Cherki, Désiré Doué, Marcus Thuram and Bradley Barcola have been called up to complement a certain Kylian Mbappé, as Les Blues will look to bounce back after narrowly missing out on the title in Qatar.
Didier Deschamps is expected to opt for a 4-2-3-1 formation that would feature Olise behind Mbappé, with Dembélé and Doué playing on the flanks. At least three of their forwards could be considered favourites for the Golden Boot, while a few of them could compete for the top spot in the World Cup’s assist charts.
Yet, the key may lie in Mbappé’s willingness to deliver defensively. It would not only contribute the most to France’s bid to force errors from opposition defences, but also set the tone for a group of players who may just need the Real Madrid striker to lead by example.
For a France side already blessed with extraordinary attacking talent, Mbappé becoming more engaged defensively could have a major tactical impact.
Modern international football increasingly demands that forwards contribute to pressing structures and defensive organisation. Teams that carry passengers out of possession often struggle against elite opponents in the knockout rounds.
Having netted more than 50 goals in less than 100 games across all competitions for Les Blues, Mbappé is now aware that upping his defensive game would take this France team to another level.
“I need to take another step forward defensively,” he admitted said in an interview with Le Parisien ahead of France’s opener against Senegal.
“I’m ready to do things right because I want the World Cup at all costs! We often talk about this because he defends a lot, a lot more than I do. But it’s good that people are highlighting this aspect.
“I’ve always been demanding of myself, and I think I need to take another step forward in that area. It’s something that’s important for teams, and I think I have to do it.”
Luis Enrique’s advice finally starts to make sense
Mbappé’s spell under Luis Enrique at Paris Saint-Germain, before departing to join Real Madrid, might have not been particularly fruitful, but there was a piece of advice that the Frenchman received by the Spanish coach which holds more weight than ever as France are looking for their third World Cup title.
“I heard you admire Michael Jordan,” Luis Enrique said in a behind-the-scenes video that became viral at the time. “Michael Jordan was known for holding his teammates accountable and defending like a beast. You need to take that approach.
“Not just as a player, but as a leader on the field. You think your job is just to score goals for us, and sure, you’re an incredible, world-class player. But that’s not enough for me.”
France are set to kick off their tournament on Tuesday with a game against a strong Senegal side led by Sadio Mané. All eyes will be on Mbappé and whether he could keep his promise of improving his defensive game as Les Blues look to hit the ground running in the tournament.
France’s strength is not merely the quality of individual players but the variety they offer in the final third, as Dembélé provides explosive dribbling, Olise delivers elite chance creation, Cherki excels in tight spaces, Doué brings versatility and Barcola stretches defences with his pace.
Meanwhile, Mbappé remains one of the most devastating attackers in world football. If his commitment off the ball improves their balance, the 2018 champions may become even harder to stop.
