France captain Kylian Mbappe mentioned his workforce’s pleasant loss to Germany on the weekend ought to function a warning going into Euro 2024, for which Les Bleus are one of many main contenders.
“We should be conscious that if we play like that within the large matches that lie forward of us, we’re setting ourselves up for main disappointment,” Mbappe mentioned on Monday, following Saturday’s 2-0 defeat in opposition to the European Championship hosts in Lyon.
Germany took the lead by a Florian Wirtz strike after simply eight seconds, with Kai Havertz scoring their second purpose shortly after half-time.
It was simply France’s second defeat since they misplaced the 2022 World Cup closing on penalties to Argentina in Qatar — the opposite was a 2-1 reverse in a pleasant away to Germany final September.
“Now that recreation is over with and our goal is to indicate a response. We should be conscious that we didn’t play nicely sufficient,” added Mbappe, who was talking in Marseille, the place France will face Chile in one other pleasant on Tuesday.
Les Bleus have reached three finals out of the final 4 main tournaments, European Championships and World Cups mixed.
In addition they gained the UEFA Nations League in 2021, and are being tipped because the favourites for the Euro alongside a robust England aspect.
Paris Saint-Germain star Mbappe was eager to level out that France gained simply as soon as of their six video games main into the final World Cup, earlier than happening to achieve the ultimate of that competitors.
In distinction they got here into the final Euro in 2021 in glorious kind, solely to exit within the final 16 on penalties to Switzerland.
“There have been tournaments the place within the matches we’ve got performed beforehand we’ve got taken beatings however then have performed nicely within the competitions themselves.
“There have additionally been competitions the place we gained the pleasant video games within the build-up however then ended up being knocked out and going residence early,” mentioned Mbappe, who gained his 76th cap in opposition to Germany aged simply 25.
“The pleasant matches give indications however not the entire reality. The proof of that’s that we’ve got misplaced twice to the Germans in pleasant video games however I’ve by no means misplaced to them in a aggressive match.”
France are in a gaggle with the Netherlands and Austria on the upcoming Euro, which can happen in Germany from June 14 to July 14.
They can even be alongside the winner of Tuesday’s decisive qualifying play-off between Wales and Poland.
Mbappe additionally mentioned he anticipated to be jeered by the group in Marseille, with France taking part in within the residence stadium of PSG’s bitter rivals.
“It doesn’t matter what sort of welcome I get. I’ll nonetheless give my finest,” he mentioned.
“To be sincere, I might perceive if I had been whistled.”
He’ll return to Marseille with PSG for a league recreation this coming weekend.
AFP
