William Saliba Praises Kylian Mbappé After France’s Victory Over Senegal
William Saliba, the Arsenal defender and a key member of the French national team, has expressed his admiration for Kylian Mbappé following France’s 3-1 victory over Senegal in their opening match of Group I at the World Cup. Saliba highlighted Mbappé’s remarkable performance, particularly his record-breaking brace that played a crucial role in securing the win for Les Bleus.
France, the 2022 World Cup runners-up, began the match with some sluggishness at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium, and it seemed as though they might leave with just a draw from their first game. However, the quality of Deschamps’ squad eventually shone through. In the 66th minute, Mbappé coolly converted an exquisite through ball from Michael Olise to break the deadlock, marking a pivotal moment in the game.
This goal not only helped France take the lead but also saw Mbappé equal Oliver Giroud on 57 goals, making him joint-top of France’s all-time highest scorers list. The Real Madrid forward wasn’t done there, as he added a second goal in the 96th minute, sealing his place in France’s history books. With Bradley Barcola and Ibrahim Mbaye also scoring, France moved to the top of the group and will look to build on this strong start when they face Iraq next Monday night.
Mbappé now has the opportunity to surpass Gerd Müller’s record of 14 goals in the overall World Cup standings, which could be a significant milestone for him in Philadelphia.
Saliba Commends Mbappé’s Achievements
Speaking to beIN SPORTS, Saliba praised Mbappé’s achievements, stating, “It’s crazy what he’s doing.” He continued, “I don’t think he realises that he’s the top scorer in the history of France and potentially the World Cup down the line, I hope. We’re all happy for him. I hope he’ll keep scoring for the rest of the competition.”
Saliba also reflected on France’s overall performance, saying, “It’s good, it’s pleasing. We played a top team. Today, we take the three points. It’s better to start the tournament like this. The first half wasn’t good, they had more chances than us. In the second half, we came with new ideas. We had more chances and we made up for it well.”
Mbappé Expresses Confidence in Team Performance
In an interview with French TV channel M6, Mbappé acknowledged the challenge posed by Senegal, the AFCON runners-up, and promised fans that more would come from the team. “I don’t think we’re fully underway yet, but it’s always good to start competitions. It gives you peace of mind, even though you’re never truly at ease during a World Cup,” he said.
He added, “We’ve seen with the other teams, it’s difficult to start with a win. Every team knows that the World Cup is unique, everyone wants to win and give a good image of their country. Today, it was a difficult match. We know we can score at any moment, that helps.”
Mbappé Addresses Criticism
Mbappé also addressed the criticism he faced before the tournament, stating, “There’s no point in seeking revenge. If I started playing to silence all the people who criticise me, I’d have to play until I was 80 years old. I play to make history for my country and to help my team win the World Cup. It’s only the first group match. People may get carried away and criticise, but the team must always remain calm in what we have to do.”
Deschamps Reflects on the Win
France’s head coach Didier Deschamps admitted to feeling a sense of relief after the team secured maximum points in their opening match. “It’s a relief. We were a bit apprehensive and tense. They were a good team, too,” Deschamps said. He also mentioned the impact of tactical changes, such as adjusting the positioning of Ousmane Dembele and Michael Olise, which allowed Bradley Barcola to become a real threat.
Deschamps emphasized that winning the first match isn’t decisive in a four-team group. “The French fans travel from far away, it’s expensive. Football is magical when you win and can share the emotions. Barcola? There are many players who can legitimately claim a starting spot. Rayan Cherki too. We’ll need everyone.”
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