On the Euro 2024 stage, Kylian Mbappe found that reality does not always go hand in hand with the storyline in his dreams. Before Euro 2024, Mbappe was predicted by netizens as a candidate for the top scorer at Euro 2024. What happened was that Mbappe appeared weak.
Playing four out of five matches at Euro 2024, Mbappe has only been able to score 1 goal. Namely when he scored a penalty when France played 1-1 against Poland in the last match of Group D.
Actually, it is not wrong to predict that this 25-year-old striker will be the top scorer. Because, Mbappe went to Euro 2024 in Germany with impressive supplies. He is the top scorer in the 2023/24 French Ligue 1 with 27 goals.
In addition, he also received good news after he officially became part of the 2024/25 Real Madrid team. That was his dream that finally came true after being postponed several times.
Even so, people have not forgotten Mbappe’s ferocity when playing in the 2022 World Cup. He became the top scorer with 8 goals. He even scored a hat-trick against Argentina in the final even though France eventually lost on penalties.
With all those great attributes, it is natural that Mbappe is a candidate for the top scorer at Euro 2024. However, all the praise and predictions suddenly disappeared when France played their first match in Group D against Austria. France played badly even though they won 1-0.
Mbappe even suffered an injury at the end of the match. His nose was bleeding. He then did not play when France faced the Netherlands in the second match which ended 0-0.
The media then widely reported that Mbappe would wear a mask to protect his face. And true, Mbappe played wearing a mask when France played Poland.
What happened was that France played 1-1. Mbappe scored a goal from the penalty spot which was answered by Robert Lewandowski’s penalty. France also qualified for the round of 16 and met Belgium.
There were high expectations, the France vs Belgium match would be interesting to watch. After all, both teams are filled with top players. However, this match was actually boring. France won 1-0.
Responding to the lack of goals he scored at Euro 2024, Mbappe then complained that he missed someone like Paul Pogba on the French team.
“When there is a player like Paul (Pogba), I just have to run and he will find me with his measured passes,” said Kylian Mbappe.
Through his statement, Mbappe seemed to say that the current French team does not have a reliable passer.
And indeed, it was not Mbappe who actually performed poorly. However, he seemed lonely at this Euro. He lacked a supporting system to score goals.
The Analyst noted that Mbappe had taken 20 shots at Euro 2024. However, he only scored one goal. That too from the penalty spot. That shows that Mbappe actually didn’t play that badly.
If we look at the current French squad, the French midfield is indeed filled with working midfielders like N’Golo Kante, Adrien Rabiot, and the Real Madrid duo, Aurelien Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga.
They are not midfielders with the typical reliable passers like Pogba or assist creators like Zinedine Zidane and Youri Djorkaeff when France last won the European Cup in 2000.
France actually has Antoine Griezmann. However, his performance at Euro 2024 was not as elegant as at the 2022 World Cup.
That is also the answer to why France is short of goals but strong in defense at Euro 2024.
Les Bleus have only been able to score 3 goals in five matches. Ironically, two goals from own goals and one goal from a penalty. France has not been able to score goals through open play.
However, France is very solid in defense. They have only conceded 1 goal. That too from a penalty.
The strength of France’s defense cannot be separated from the great performance of the French goalkeeper, Mike Maignan. The goalkeeper from AC Milan has a record of a save percentage of 94 percent which makes him a candidate for the best goalkeeper at Euro 2024.
Facing Spain, Didier Deschamps is said to be playing a 4-3-1-2 formation by placing Mbappe in a duet with Randal Kolo Muani as a striker.
Meanwhile, for other positions, it will remain the same as when playing against Portugal in the quarter-finals.
William Saliba, Dayot Upamecano, Jules Kounde, and Theo Hernandez are symbols of the strength of France’s defense. In midfield there are Kante, Camavnga and Tchouameni, while Griezmann will be the ‘servant’ for Mbappe and Kolo Muani.
In terms of scoring goals, Spain is far above France at Euro 2024.
Spain is the only Euro 2024 semi-finalist team to have won all five of its matches.
La Furia Roja is also the most productive team, aka the most goals scored with 11 goals. Spain started the tournament by beating Croatia 3-0, then won 1-0 over Italy and Albania. In the knockout stages, Spain beat Georgia 4-1 and beat Germany 2-1 in the quarter-finals.
While France still misses Mbappe’s performance like at the 2022 World Cup, Spain is happy with the performance of the ‘twins’, Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams who are the driving force of Spain’s attack.
Lamine Yamal, a winger from Barcelona who is only 16 years old, has made three assists at Euro 2024. Including an assist for Spain’s first goal against Germany in the semifinals.
Meanwhile, Nico Williams (21 years old) has scored 1 goal and made one assist when Spain beat Georgia in the last 16. However, Spain will not appear with its strongest starting XI when facing France.
Spain cannot play three of its main players. They are center back Robin Le Normand and experienced right full back, Dani Carvajal due to card accumulation.
Spain also cannot play Pedri due to injury. Although, Spanish Coach, Luis de la Fuente still has Dani Olmo who has scored two goals in this tournament.
As a football lover, I certainly hope that this semifinal match will be open and enjoyable to watch.
Moreover, both teams already know each other. Many players from both countries play for the same club. Some are from Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Paris Saint Germain.
Spain is more favored to qualify for the final. And that makes sense considering their consistent performance. However, if Mbappe is no longer lonely, the Spanish defense line will be worried.
ASL
