Soccer
Could Mbappe be the downfall of France's World Cup campaign?
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French striker Kylian Mbappe could be a weakness for his national team at the World Cup, which begins on Thursday.
France have recently become a powerhouse in football's biggest tournament, reaching the previous two finals, beating Croatia in 2018 before losing on penalties to Argentina four years later.
What makes Les Bleus such a dangerous team is the attacking talent at the disposal of manager Didier Deschamps.
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From Ousmane Dembele to Mbappe to Rayan Cherki, the options in the attacking areas feel endless, so it's no surprise France are predicted to go far at this year's tournament.
However, France can sometimes be a victim of having too many personalities in their squad and of imploding at the worst possible time.
'Mbappe does not enough work off the ball'
One player that could trigger an implosion is Mbappe, who thrives in attack but often decides not to help out on defensive duties, which could become a weak link for France during the World Cup.
This observation was echoed by former Manchester City defender and England international Micah Richards, who spoke about Mbappe's quality and flaws on The Rest is Football.
"Mbappe is my favourite player in the world of football right now. I think he’s got all the attributes to be the best left winger or striker, whether he’s running in behind or taking someone on," Richards said.
"However, off the ball, he does not do his work; it affects the whole team.
"If I was looking at France, I would be looking at targeting that area."
DAZN/FIFABut, Richards believes that unlike previous tournaments where France have become very reliant on Mbappe, the squad depth, especially at striker, is now there for Les Bleus if the 27-year-old is not delivering and needs to be taken off.
"The only thing now is that they have a got a Ballon d’Or winner, Dembele. If Mbappe is not doing his work, it sounds ridiculous, but he’s going to have to go on the bench."
France kick off their World Cup campaign on June 16 against Senegal before facing Iraq and Norway in what many are billing as the must-watch game of this year's group stage.
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