France is through to the World Cup semifinals after a 2-0 win over Morocco on Thursday. But the victory came with a real scare.
Kylian Mbappé went down in the 77th minute and had to be helped off the field. He grabbed at his right ankle after a non-contact moment, and the French medical staff didn’t waste any time getting him to the sideline. Once he reached the bench, trainers immediately applied ice to the ankle.
What happened on the play
Mbappé was making a cut near the top of the box when he pulled up suddenly. He didn’t collide with anyone. He just stopped and signaled to the bench. The France captain sat down on the turf for a moment before slowly walking off. He wasn’t putting full weight on that right leg.
The team has not released any official update on the severity of the injury. But seeing a player of Mbappé’s caliber leave a knockout game early — with ice strapped on — is never a good sign.
What this means for France
France has looked like the best team in this tournament. Kolo Muani and Ousmane Dembélé scored in the first half, and Morocco never really found a rhythm. But losing Mbappé for any amount of time changes the entire outlook. He’s been the focal point of the attack, the guy defenses game-plan for. Without him, France still has talent, but the margin for error shrinks.
If Mbappé can’t go in the semifinal, Didier Deschamps will have to shuffle things up. Marcus Thuram and Randal Kolo Muani are options. Neither one is Kylian Mbappé.
The next 48 hours are critical. France will run tests, and by Friday or Saturday we’ll have a clearer picture. Right now, it’s just wait and see.
Morocco, meanwhile, exits the tournament after another gritty run. They gave France fits for long stretches but couldn’t finish their chances. For a team that made the semis in 2022, they’ve shown they belong on this stage. But Thursday belonged to France — and now everyone’s watching Mbappé’s ankle.
📸 MAURO PIMENTEL – AFP or licensors
Leave a Comment