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SportsL'Équipe: French teammates lack motivation for third-place match, Mbappé eager for Golden Boot
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According to L'Équipe, the French national team is struggling with motivation ahead of the World Cup third-place match against England. Captain Kylian Mbappé, however, is determined to start and compete for the tournament's Golden Boot, currently tied with Lionel Messi at eight goals each. Mbappé's teammates showed little enthusiasm for the match, even asking him to request a midnight outing from coach Didier Deschamps, which was denied. Deschamps aims to end the tournament positively, requiring discipline and motivation. Mbappé, who failed to score in the semi-final loss to Spain (0-2), has been frequently asked about his rivalry with Messi for the top scorer award. Despite prioritizing team goals, Mbappé is deeply hurt by the semi-final defeat and seeks to reconnect with shared victory after winning La Liga top scorer twice without a major title with Real Madrid.
Source report
Hupu Football News — July 18
L'Équipe has published an article discussing the upcoming World Cup third-place match between France and England. In this game, French captain Kylian Mbappé is expected to go all out in pursuit of the tournament's Golden Boot.
Mbappé will retain his starting position in today's match to compete for the title of top scorer. He had once dreamed of reaching the World Cup final for the third consecutive time, hoping to recapture the immense joy of 2018 amid the shadow of the 2022 defeat. However, he now finds himself in Florida, captaining a team that "would rather be elsewhere."
His teammates have little desire to play this third-place match. On Thursday, they approached Mbappé, hoping he would ask the coaching staff for permission to go out at midnight—a request that was denied. France coach Didier Deschamps wants to do everything possible to end the tournament on a positive note, which requires discipline and motivation—something Mbappé can easily find.
Although Mbappé failed to score in Tuesday's semi-final against Spain (0–2), he still has a chance to become the tournament's top scorer. He is competing with Messi, with both having scored eight goals in seven matches.
This long-distance duel has been a recurring theme throughout Mbappé's weeks in the United States. He is often asked about it, and he either avoids the topic—prioritizing France's team goals—or places the Argentine on a pedestal above all competitors.
This does not mean Mbappé is uninterested in the challenge. Over the past two seasons, he has twice become La Liga's top scorer but failed to win a major title with Real Madrid. He had hoped to use this World Cup to reconnect with the joy of shared victory, and the semi-final loss deeply hurt him. The hours after the defeat were excruciating, and the third-place match was not on his mind at all.
Source: L'Équipe
Posted in Shanghai | Reads: 986
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User 1: I knew it, Mbappé and Kane will each score five goals. Likes (0) | Reply
User 2: Mbappé: Everyone listen up, fight for my Golden Boot until the last moment! Likes (0) | Reply | Expand all replies
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虎扑 - 足球Western
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