Analysis of Kylian Mbappe as France teenager scores two but is far from fluid in 3-1 Russia win

Matt Jones - Editor 22:42 27/03/2018
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  • Kylian Mbappe bamboozles the Russia defence to open the scoring in Saint Petersburg.

    France earned an entertaining 3-1 win against World Cup hosts Russia as teenage starlet Kylian Mbappe grabbed a brace.

    The Paris-Saint Germain man opened the scoring just before the break and then sealed the win late on after Paul Pogba had rocketed in a sublime free-kick. Fyodor Smolov made it 2-1 for Russia as they threatened a comeback, but France’s quality eventually told.

    Here, we analyse the performance of Mbappe, who endured a mixed evening.

    30-SECOND REPORT

    A cursory glance at the scoreline suggests this was a good night for a man deemed the future of French football. But we got to see both sides of Mbappe’s game – the good and the side that reminds us he’s still only 19 and learning the game.

    He had missed a glorious chance to open the scoring when faced with a presentable chance following a move sparked by Paul Pogba, before then linking up with the midfielder to open the scoring in style.

    His pace and quick feet posed the hosts problems all night and it was those feet that bamboozled his marker late on as he fired in the game-clinching third goal, even though his goal owed a lot to a grisly error by Russia goalkeeper Andrey Lunev.

    GOT RIGHT

    Work rate – Despite his obvious talent, going to Paris-Saint Germain has meant Mbappe has had to quickly adapt to contributing in a team full of stars.

    With Edinson Cavani and Neymar alongside him in attack in the French capital, the teenager is not always the leading light. Like at club level, he played a lot on the flank here and got through his work to make life difficult for Russia’s right-sided wing-backs Aleksandr Samedov and Igor Smolnikov.

    Poise – Say what you want about Mbappe’s dip in form in the last few months, but he has definite presence in front of goal.

    With his confidence shaken and a glorious chance missed, you might have expected the 19-year- old to wilt under the pressure. But instead he perservered and given a second sniff of goal, finished emphatically.

    Collecting Pogba’s perfect pass, cutting past a defender and firing in at the near post.

    GOT WRONG

    Finishing – He showed how clinical he can be with a composed finish to break the deadlock, but he wasted a few guilt-edged chances to give his side the lead prior to that.

    Maybe it was a case of his recent lack of form in front of goal weighing on the youngster’s mind, but a man of his talent should have buried the opening chance that dropped into his path in the 27 th minute, sidefooting tamely into the goalkeeper’s arms with the goal at his mercy.

    Focus – Mbappe switched off in the second half and was one of many culprits Didier Deschamps will point the finger at for a drop in intensity as Russia threatened to get back into the game.

    They had plenty of joy down their right flank, France’s left, with Mbappe guilty of failing to give left-back Lucas Hernandez adequate cover, with right wing-back Smolnikov pressing forward and crossing delightfully for Smolov’s goal.

    In Focus Kylian Mbappe

    KEY MOMENTS

    11th min CHANCE: Pogba and Mbappe link up really nicely before the latter holds it up and sends it out to Martial on the left. The Manchester

    United man whips it in looking for club-mate Pogba but it’s just out of reach and Lunev gathers.

    27th min CHANCE: Pogba’s chip over the defence finds Kante. He tees up Martial whose shot is blocked into the path of Mbappe. He has a clear

    sight of goal and really should score, but sidefoots tamely at the keeper.

    40th min GOAL: Pogba is again the architect as his slide rules pass splits the Russuian rear guard. Mbappe races onto it and coolly cuts inside his marker to fire low past Lunev at his near post.

    43rd min CHANCE: Good feet by the teenager, who receives the ball in the box, then glides by his marker and centres for Martial, who prods goalwards, but Lunev saves.

    52nd min YELLOW: Mbappe is in the book for going down too easily. Replays suggest there was contact but no way was it a penalty.

    83rd min GOAL: He’s had a mixed game but somehow he’s got two goals, but Russia stopper Lunev won’t want to see this again. Great footwork by Mbappe who gets a sight of goal and fires at the Zenit man, who allows the ball to trickle through his legs.

    VERDICT

    Mbappe came into the game on the back of a few things he perhaps hasn’t quite been used to in his fledgling career. Criticism and a dip in form.

    The former Monaco man has scored in his last two games for PSG but had previously gone seven games without finding the net and even the man himself admitted “it’s not the best period of my career”.

    Against Russia he was always a real threat and even though he could have had reasonably expected to net a hat-trick on another night, he was a constant menace for his markers.

    RATING: 7/10

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