World Cup: This tournament is my obsession, says Mbappe after firing France into quarter-finals

Kylian Mbappe celebrating with France teammate Marcus Thuram after scoring his team's third goal in the 3-1 win over Poland on Sunday. PHOTO: AFP

DOHA – Kylian Mbappe said on Sunday he dreamt of winning the World Cup for a second time after his brace helped France to a 3-1 win over Poland which booked a quarter-final date with England on Saturday.

“Of course, this World Cup is an obsession for me, it’s the competition of my dreams,” said the 23-year-old, who burst onto the global stage by starring when France won the title in Russia four years ago.

“I have built my season around this competition and around being ready both physically and mentally for it.

“I wanted to come here ready and so far things are going well, but we are still a long way from the objective we set and that I set.”

His coach Didier Deschamps agreed, saying France are “still hungry” to become the first team to retain football’s biggest prize since Brazil in 1962.

He added: “They won’t be content with just that but, at least, we’re in the quarter-finals.”

His star forward now has five goals in just four games at the tournament and is already France’s second-highest scorer ever at the World Cup with nine goals, as many as giants of the game such as Eusebio and Jairzinho.

Only Just Fontaine, who scored an incredible 13 times at the 1958 tournament in Sweden, has more World Cup goals for France.

However, Mbappe insisted he was not bothered about the prospect of winning the Golden Ball for the tournament’s best player.

“The only objective for me is to win the World Cup,” said Mbappe, who also set up the opening goal against Poland for Olivier Giroud.

“That is what I am dreaming of. I didn’t come here to win the Golden Ball. That is not why I am here. I am here to win and help the French national team.”

France had to be patient against Poland who, as expected, defended deep and in numbers, but once Mbappe’s sublime through ball played in Giroud to steer past Wojciech Szczensy, there was only really one outcome.

While veteran Giroud netted his 52nd international goal to move past Thierry Henry and become France’s all-time top scorer, Mbappe was once again France’s outstanding player.

The 36-year-old told beIN Sport of his strike partner: “It’s great, he finds me well, it’s only happiness with him.”

Looking ahead to Les Bleus’ quarter-final against the Three Lions, former World Cup Golden Boot winner Gary Lineker said Mbappe “lights the place up when he gets the ball” while fellow former England international Rio Ferdinand called the striker’s showing against Poland “the most explosive performance” at Qatar 2022.

His former Paris Saint-Germain coach Mauricio Pochettino hailed Mbappe’s performance but cautioned that ”France need to improve a lot”. He told the BBC: “He’s impossible to stop – the quality, the capacity to hit, the technique is so, so good. It’s a nightmare for the full-back. It’s impossible...

“Now I think it’s time to analyse a little bit. France... need to push the level up, the quality. If they want to be real contenders, they need to play like a team. Today, they were too much in a difficult situation.”

While Mbappe’s goals have set Qatar 2022 alight and Giroud has been busy making history, Antoine Griezmann has been slaving away tirelessly in the engine room behind them.

“Maybe I’m not as close to the box as I used to be. I’m playing good games,” he said. “I’m still missing a goal but I don’t shoot 50 times a game and I’m not obsessing about it. The team need me in midfield to make the link between the defence and the attack. I’m very proud and happy.” AFP, REUTERS

France’s top scorers

Olivier Giroud: 52 goals

Thierry Henry: 51

Antoine Griezmann: 42

Michel Platini: 41

Karim Benzema: 37

David Trezeguet: 34

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