Mbappe Sounds Rallying Cry After Germany Defeat: "We Need To Be Better"

Eko Hot Blog reports that Kylian Mbappe, the French national team captain, has issued a stern warning to his teammates following their 2-0 friendly defeat against Germany on Saturday, stating that a similar performance in major tournaments would lead to “major disappointment.”

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Speaking ahead of France’s friendly against Chile on Tuesday, Mbappe emphasized the need for improvement, saying, “We need to be aware that if we play like that in the big matches that lie ahead of us, we are setting ourselves up for major disappointment.”

The loss to Germany, where France conceded a goal within eight seconds from Florian Wirtz and another from Kai Havertz shortly after halftime, marked only their second defeat since the 2022 World Cup final in Qatar.

Mbappe, however, remained pragmatic, acknowledging the significance of friendly matches while also recognizing their limitations. “The friendly matches give indications but not the whole truth. The proof of that is that we have lost twice to the Germans in friendly games, but I have never lost to them in a competitive match,” he stated.

The 25-year-old Paris Saint-Germain star pointed out France’s contrasting fortunes in previous major tournaments, highlighting their poor form leading up to the 2022 World Cup, where they ultimately reached the final, and their impressive build-up to the 2021 Euros, only to be eliminated in the Round of 16.

“There have been tournaments where in the matches we have played beforehand we have taken beatings but then have played well in the competitions themselves,” Mbappe said. “There have also been competitions where we won the friendly games in the build-up but then ended up being knocked out and going home early.”

As one of the leading contenders for Euro 2024, which will be held in Germany, Mbappe’s rallying cry serves as a wake-up call for Les Bleus to raise their game ahead of the prestigious tournament.

“Now that game is over with and our objective is to show a reaction. We need to be aware that we didn’t play well enough,” he added.

With France set to face Chile in Marseille, the home of PSG’s bitter rivals, Mbappe anticipates a hostile reception but remains unfazed, stating, “It doesn’t matter what kind of welcome I get. I will still give my best. To be honest, I would understand if I were whistled.”