DOHA: This may be the World Cup where Lionel Messi breaks his duck, one from where Cristiano Ronaldo 'Siuuus' into Saudi Arabia and Neymar Jr helps Brazil do what they did when the tournament last came to Asia. But about this there is no doubt: there is a new showman in town. And he is bossing this edition. Step forward, Kylian Mbappe.
The teenager in Russia, Mbappe is now a man whose speed can intimidate if his array of skills does not. An assist and two goals in France's 3-1 win against Poland in the Round of 16 here on Sunday continued a World Cup where he has already scored five.
That is two more than everyone in the race for the Golden Boot. His post-goal celebrations are a camera delight and in four games, the man who spurned Real Madrid for his Qatari employers has done little wrong. So, when Mbappe asks the crowd to back his team, they always turn up the volume.
France, Arsene Wenger said, had a tough time last year. "That made them go back to the drawing board and they have come here with a real appetite. They will be really dangerous."
France on song
Hours after FIFA's global football development head had spoken at a Technical Study Group (TSG) briefing, France fizzed the ball from right and left giving Wojciech Szczesny a testing time.
This story is from the December 05, 2022 edition of Hindustan Times.
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This story is from the December 05, 2022 edition of Hindustan Times.
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