PARIS — Kylian Mbappé don dey ready to lead France against Croatia after six-month absence from the team. The Real Madrid star go captain Les Bleus for the first leg of Nations League quarterfinal wey go happen for Split on Thursday, March 20, 2025, with the return leg set for Stade de France on Sunday.
This go be Mbappé first start for France since September 6, 2024, after dem lose 3-1 to Italy. As dem prepare for the match, E don accept say he no handle the captaincy well last year. “I am lucid enough to know what I do well and what I don’t do well. I know people were not happy with what I was doing on and off the field, and I wasn’t doing them well,” Mbappé talk for press conference wey happen before the match.
Mbappé also talk say criticism never bother him, especially when e dey deserved and well-argued. “I have never had any problem with criticism when it is deserved and well-argued,” he add. “But at that time, I didn’t play well and my pre-match news conference didn’t please people, because as captain, I didn’t bring people together. I’m accepting that, but now the most important thing is to move forward and not repeat the same mistakes.”
Despite early struggles this season, Mbappé don find form again with 31 goals in 44 matches for Real Madrid. He get 48 goals for France, making am third on the country’s all-time scoring list, behind Thierry Henry and Michel Platini. The 26-year-old also downplay any worries about reception wey e go get from PSG fans after he left the club post tensions.
“I don’t care about the reception I will get at PSG. What matters to me now is to focus on the match and help my country. Six months later, I accept some of the criticism aimed my way was valid,” Mbappé explain.
As captain of the team, e dey look forward to working with another PSG star, Ousmane Dembélé. Mbappé talk say Dembélé na another key player as both of dem go represent France together. “We just need to combine properly. But we know each other off by heart and we want to play together. He’s another string to our bow. He helps us become more unpredictable for the opponent,” Mbappé commend Dembélé.
Mbappé and his teammates go need to ensure sey dem fit deliver on the big stage wey dey come, especially after France’s disappointing performance last year. The coach, Didier Deschamps, don also discuss Mbappé’s leadership role in the team and affirm say he still believe in am as captain.
“Kylian don learn and grow. This match against Croatia go be important for am to show sey e fit lead the team and deliver results. We dey put our faith in him,” Deschamps talk.
As the excitement build for the Nations League matchup, all eyes go dey on Mbappé to show say he don overcome the past and ready to lead France to victory. The quarter-final battle don set the stage for a thrilling encounter as Les Bleus dey chase glory on the international stage again.
