Mbappe saves France the blushes
BIG RELIEF PSG star’s cameo helps them recover from 02 deficit against Iceland in home friendly
GUINGAMP,FRANCE: Kylian Mbappe inspired a fightback from world champions France as they rallied from two goals down at home to earn a 2-2 draw with Iceland here on Thursday.
Birkir Bjarnason swept Iceland ahead from the edge of the area on 30 minutes, and Kari Arnason’s excellent second-half header doubled their lead in Guingamp.
But Mbappe, brought on as a substitute for the final half-hour, gave France a lifeline when his shot was saved and then inadvertently turned in by Iceland defender Holmar Orn Eyjolfsson.
The Paris Saint-germain forward levelled from the penalty spot in the 90th minute after Kolbeinn Sigthorsson handled at a corner.
“The team saw we needed to do something else. I bring what I can do,” Mbappe told TF1. “We saw the fans were completely behind us even if it wasn’t a big stadium. We wanted to do everything for the people who were there.
“We got the draw, we didn’t lose, but we’re still a bit annoyed.” France coach Didier Deschamps fielded six of the players that began the World Cup final against Croatia, handing in-form Marseille winger Florian Thauvin his first start as Mbappe was left on the bench.
Iceland were beaten 5-2 by France in the quarter-finals of Euro 2016, and new coach Erik Hamren’s reign had started disastrously with two heavy defeats to open their Nations League campaign. But the Nordic nation with a population of around 350,000 stunned the hosts as Aston Villa midfielder Bjarnason beat Hugo Lloris with a low strike after Alfred Finnbogason stole the ball from Presnel Kimpembe.
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A searing Thauvin strike fizzed just over the crossbar early in the second half, with an Antoine Griezmann header also turned behind by Runarsson. Arnason connected superbly at a corner, heading in via the underside of the bar, as Iceland surged two goals clear on 58 minutes and on course for a first win since beating Kosovo 2-0 last October. By scoring on Thursday, Mbappe became the first player to reach the 10-goal mark for Les Bleus before turning 20. With his consistent success at both Mbappe made heads turn for the first time in September 2017 when he moved from Ligue 1 side Monaco to PSG for a staggering 180 million euros ($207 million). He was only 18 then.
He achieved international recognition during this year’s World Cup in Russia where he played a key role in helping France lift the World Cup trophy after a hiatus of 20 years.
He became the youngest French goal scorer in World Cup history when he scored against Peru in a group match. His best performance came in the last-16 clash against South American giants Argentina where he netted twice and earned a penalty in his team’s thrilling 4-3 win.
Mbappe is the second teenager since Michael Owen in 1998 to score two or more goals in the World Cup. Owen was 18 year, 190 days when he scored his first goal in 1998 World Cup.
goals Mbappe scored in 2018 World Cup in Russia. It earned him FIFA award for Best Young Player of the tournament.
Mbappe, who replaced Griezmann, was at the origin of an attack that saw France pull a goal back with four minutes to play. His shot from a tight angle was well saved by Runars- country and club levels, the Paris Saint-germain (PSG) striker has established himself as probably the biggest star of present time after Messi and Ronaldo. son but the rebound flew straight into the unwitting Eyjolfsson, who was helpless as the ball rolled over the line.
Mbappe then snatched a draw in the final minute with a nerve- Fittingly a day after he starred in a ‘Great French Escape’, Mbappe’s face found a place on the cover of Time magazine’s international edition which appeared on Friday. Time dubbed Mbappe as a global superstar who ‘is the future of soccer’. Like he did in the World Cup earlier, Mbappe donned the mantle of his nation’s saviour once again on Thursday. With France trailing 0-2, Mbappe, who was brought on as a substitute for the final half-hour, turned the match on its head.
He first gave the world champions a lifeline when his strike was saved but went in after brushing Iceland defender Holmar Orn Eyjolfsson. He then converted a penalty in the 90th minute after Kolbeinn Sigthorsson handled at a corner to level the scores. less spot-kick, before a clumsy foul on the jet-heeled forward in stoppage time sparked a confrontation between both sets of players over by the touchline.
France return to competitive His phenomenal performance in the World Cup drew comparisons with football legends Pele and Maradona, who had achieved similar success as teenagers.
After he became the second footballer after Pele to register two World Cup goals in Russia, the Brazillian legend himself came out in public to shower accolades on the youngster. “If Kylian keeps on equalling my records,
I’m going to have to dust off my boots,” Pele said. The 19-year-old went back to club football after the World Cup success and continued to make headlines. In his last outing for PSG against Olympique Lyonnais in Ligue on Monday, the teenager struck four goals in 13 minutes and became the youngest player in the league’s history to net four times in a match. PSG won the game 5-0. goals scored by Mbappe for Les Bleus in 25 games so far action on Tuesday when they host Germany in the Nations League. The two sides played out a 0-0 draw in their opening match of the competition in Munich last month.