“From the final lost on penalties in Qatar I learned that in certain situations you need to have a cold mind.” says the French World Champion in 2018 on the eve of this edition
The Barrio de Las Letras in Madrid has streets dedicated to the great Spanish writers and an effervescent atmosphere among works of art, tapas and culinary and musical creativity. Here Hublot decided to organize the party to celebrate Kylian Mbappé, image man of the Swiss brand and super “estrella”, star, of Real Madrid. The curtain falls on the season with Madrid, the glittering curtain of the American World Cup with France rises.
It is the third World Cup for her and she has set the bar quite high… In Russia in 2018 she won and in Qatar in 2022 she lost the final on penalties… Kylian laughs.
“So much pressure, huh?”.
“I’m calm, I don’t look at the World Cup from this perspective. I consider it as a new opportunity to represent my country in the best competition there is in football and probably in all of sport. For me it’s a pride to be able to wear the France shirt and be the captain of the team. We leave with great hopes knowing that people expect a lot from us, but we must not make the mistake of winning the World Cup before taking to the pitch because we know that everyone wants to return home with the Cup. We have to play well and be intelligent on the pitch, we have a group fantastic and I think we can do something good.”
Well, seen from the outside, with the players you have you could field 2-3 French national teams, and all of them of quality.
“It’s fortunate, because every time something happens and someone has to leave, whoever comes in doesn’t make us lose anything in terms of quality. We saw it in the last friendlies, in March: we played against Brazil and Colombia fielding two completely different teams and we didn’t lower the level. We played well. Then it’s clear, they’re friendlies and the World Cup isn’t won with friendlies. We need to stay calm, humble, but with the ambition of knowing that we can do very well.”
Are you surprised by the abundance of quality in the French football movement?
“I wouldn’t say so. Certainly things are going very, very well. We have to thank the coaches and trainers who do a fantastic job with the youth teams. This leads us to have players of the highest level in every position, we practically double up in all roles. For me, as captain, it is a source of pride and represents well what France is, a country that is able to train and help young people grow to become great players for the national team.”
He cited his role as captain. Was this something you dreamed of as a child?
“No, I didn’t dream that big, the national team shirt was enough for me, you shouldn’t exaggerate… (laughs). But now that I’ve reached the finish line of the band it’s clear that it means a lot to me. And it also involves a lot in terms of responsibility. Among other things, I’m also now the player with the most matches for the national team and that surprises me a bit. I look like a veteran, but I’m not a veteran!”.
the captain’s armband was not my dream as a child. I didn’t dream that big
It’s just that he started very, very early, he made his debut with Les Bleus at 18…
“Clearly. I have already experienced several stages with the national team, and now a new one arrives, one more step in my history with this team. But let me tell you something.”
“I don’t think about numbers but about what I can give to this team, how I can help the group and contribute to returning home with a title.”
He cited numbers. He won’t think about it, but the national team’s scoring record is there…
“Well, there’s only one missing…”.
Here, Giroud 57, Mbappé 56. It’s just a matter of time. But then there is that of goals in the World Cup. The German Klose has reached 16 in four tournaments, she has already reached 12 in two, like Pelé, who we must then talk about.
“No, no, I don’t think about it because for me this is a surreal thing. I know that people talk about it, but I don’t pay attention to it. For me the World Cup is the tournament of stars, and to think that at 27 years old I can aspire to be the greatest goalscorer in the history of the competition is surreal, I repeat. And also something that I see very far away. I only think about how I can help my team”.
Well, you don’t have to worry too much, Cristiano Ronaldo is about to play his sixth World Cup at 41… That’s 14 more than she is now.
“But be careful, eh? Cristiano can play in a World Cup even at 45…”.
And then another laugh. Ok, Cristiano is a special case. But we were saying it to take the pressure off her, she lacks a lot of time.
“I don’t look ahead. Or at least not that far ahead. For me, the best way to win in football is not to think about the future, but to focus on the present. I’m here anchored to 2026 and the rest doesn’t interest me much. I think about this summer, about how I can help my team and my country. I leave the future and the projections to the analysts, we just have to play. If I don’t focus on my matches, no one will do it for me.”
The 48-team World Cup is a great opportunity for countries that wouldn’t have had a chance to showcase themselves
What did your first two World Cups leave you with?
“Positive things. The first the victory, the second the possibility of learning from the defeat. With Argentina we got to penalties, and so I think about the management of emotions, of the timing of a final when there is enormous tension in a scenario that has gone completely crazy and you have to remain with a frozen mind. Now we have more experience. There are four of us who have survived the victory in 2018, and many from 2022. And the new ones who have arrived are very talented and I’m sure they will help us continue like this and, I hope, to win the Cup.”
What do you think of the 48-team World Cup?
“It’s an opportunity for many countries that wouldn’t be able to qualify if it were still at 32. It’s an incredible possibility for many national teams. And now that I’m here with you, who are Italian, I have to say, I’m very sorry…”.
Here we are… The moment I feared has arrived. Wait until I take out my handkerchief to dry my tears… There are 48 teams and Italy isn’t there.
“Yes. I am very fond of Italy. I played with great Italian players, Verratti, Donnarumma, Buffon, I have many friends and when I can I come on holiday to your country: I feel great here, the people are super friendly towards me. It’s a real shame because Italy is a great football country”.
We were talking about the extended World Cup and our thoughts go to his parents, originally from Cameroon and Algeria. This year there are 10 African national teams at the World Cup.
“I repeat, the 48-team World Cup is good not only for African football but for that of every continent, because it gives opportunities to many teams that would never enter with 32. There are 16 more national teams, a lot. An opportunity for everyone to show their qualities. But not too much, eh? Because I hope that in the end we win.”
Thanks to Hublot he was able to meet Pelé. How old was he?
“Nineteen. It was a pleasure to be lucky enough to meet him before he left us. When I met him, in Paris, I understood that time doesn’t erase everything. There are legacies that cross eras. It was a moment of absolute privilege, as a player obviously, but I would say above all as a young man and as a human being: he inspired an incredible number of people, I would say the whole world. When he played, football wasn’t like it is now, he had much more merit than us in what he did and achieved. He is He was an inspiration to all of us who came after.”
They compare her to him, if only for the World Cup won at a young age.
“No, no, similar comparisons cannot be made. For me the fact that my name is placed next to his is already a triumph. He won three World Cups, he gave football its first moments of splendor. The mere fact that he saw me as a player who resembled him was an immense honor for me.”
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