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Mbappé, the Mozart of the Blues
“Kylian is Kylian, if I could get him to play from the first minute…” The declaration comes from Didier Deschamps, more than ever under the spell of his striker, a saving striker on Friday evening in Austria (1-1).
As soon as he entered the game, the Parisian changed the face of his team, before scoring and being very close to a double.
This player is extraordinary, it's no longer a secret for anyone and when he plays, the face of the France team changes instantly.
His presence on Monday evening at the kick-off of the last match in June against Croatia (8:45 p.m., Stade de France) is a good reason to go to Saint-Denis or to sit in front of his television.
Read alsoThe notes of the Blues: Griezmann in (great) suffering, Kamara attractive
Benzema welcomed like a rock star
You have to go to the matches to assess the popularity rating of the different players of the France team.
1h30 before kick-off, the Austrian kids only had eyes for Karim Benzema when the Blues bus approached the Ernst-Happel Stadion enclosure.
A mass gathered to try to see the striker of Real Madrid and the France team, more than likely future Ballon d'Or.
Ditto during the announcement of his name on the screens of the stadium when the composition of the two teams.
Conversely, Kylian Mbappé suffered a real bronca, because the local public knew the problems that the 23-year-old striker could pose.
They were right.
But the reception like a rock-star for Benzema pleased both.
Read alsoDeschamps thanks Mbappé: “Kylian is Kylian”
No hole and a very nice party
Phew, the hole on the lawn of the Ernst-Happel Stadion did not reappear on Friday evening.
It must be said that UEFA and the Austrian organization have done everything to avoid a new comical - and dangerous - scene during the reception of the world champions.
If the lawn did not look like the billiards of the Parc des Princes, the main actors did not have to complain.
Also note Friday evening, the magnificent support of the 44,800 supporters present to push their nation to overthrow the world champions.
Welcoming the winners of the 2018 World Cup remains an event that fans did not want to miss.
And they pushed before, during and after the meeting.
Before exulting at the final whistle.
For a truly refreshing moment.
Kylian Mbappé JOE KLAMAR / AFP
Read alsoAustria-France: the goal of the Mbappé rocket that saves the Blues on video
Claw strokes
Griezmann missing
How hard it is to see Antoine Griezmann taking so little pleasure with the blue jersey in this June streak.
Not that he lacks desire, it's not the kind of house, but the international with 64 consecutive matches with the selection seems to wander like a soul in pain as was the case for 63 minutes Friday evening on the Viennese lawn.
Without jerk or inspiration, the Madrilenian appeared slow, not very influential and in dire need of juice.
He even displays a sad face.
Very far from the essential, smiling and decisive framework that the Blues need.
Hurry the holidays.
An insane and ridiculous calendar
We repeat ourselves over the matches, but even if this is no excuse for the Blues, the sequence of meetings borders on the ridiculous at this time of the season.
Of course all the selections are housed in the same boat – although the majority of the Austrian group does not play in the biggest European clubs and therefore does not find itself in the last rounds of the European cups – but to play four matches in eleven days, as much as during the last Euro, makes no sense.
Players can't tell or they'll come across as overpaid young adults, but the reality is there.
Let FIFA and UEFA continue in this direction with the multiplication of matches, the lengthening of competitions and you will see the breakage multiply with the main players who are not robots.
Worse, these XXL speeds could even lead to doping temptations.
But let's continue like this.
Football is king.