He might have stopped playing a while ago, but Robert Pires still refers to the French national football team as “we”.
So, when France’s 1998 World Cup-winning star talks about Kylian Mbappe, France’s 2022 World Cup sensation continuing to mesmerize with his speed on the green and skill on the ball, we listen.
тАЬAgainst Poland, he was outstanding,тАЭ Pires said. тАЬHeтАЩs come up the good way; heтАЩs a great talent, good technique. Of course, everybody can see the speed of Mbappe. I think nobody can stop himтАФhe is so fast. For France, for (Didier) Deschamps, he is very important.тАЭ
The PSG forward’s twin strikes in France’s 3-1 win against Poland in the Round of 16 showed the damage he can inflict with a speck of space and time before launching those rockets. He leads the Golden Boot race in Qatar with five goals, and his nine goals in just two World Cup appearances sit alongside Lionel Messi.
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Pires sees something different in this 23-year-old Mbappe from the teen that was part of the World Cup-winning team in Russia.
тАЬHeтАЩs not the same when we won four years ago,тАЭ Pires, in Mumbai as part of Viacom18тАЩs expert panel for the World Cup, said. тАЬHe has reached a higher level. HeтАЩs more mature now, and thatтАЩs why he is much better.тАЭ
Add to that maturity a dash of, as Pires likes to call it, stubbornness in focus. It is why Mbappe has shunned any media activities during the World Cup, putting on his blinders while choosing to avoid any outside noise.
тАЬWhen you play with confidence, you can try everything. And itтАЩs because heтАЩs stubborn, because he wants to be No. 1. He wants to say, тАШIтАЩm the No. 1тАЩ.
тАЬWhen I say stubborn, itтАЩs about the work; not stubborn in talking with some guys. He is stubborn in his focus. ThatтАЩs why he is stubborn on the field. In the dressing room, I donтАЩt care. When he plays in PSG with Neymar, Messi, I think heтАЩs fantastic. Especially in France, we are very happy to watch the trio every weekend. For me, for the people in France, it is a joy to watch him at PSG,” Pires said.
тАЬFor me, he isтАФno, not the No. 1тАФbut one of the best players in the world.тАЭ
From one of the worldтАЩs best, the conversation steers to FranceтАЩs best in goalscoring records. PiresтАЩs face lights up at the mention of Olivier Giroud.
тАЬGiroud, my friend,” Pires smiled. “He is a very good striker, but totally different from someone like (Karim) Benzema. I know in AC Milan all the players like to play with Giroud. Even Zlatan (Ibrahimovic), so you can imagine!тАЭ
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The French players certainly like playing with him, and his opening goal against Poland was his 52nd for the national team, breaking Thierry Henry’s record.
тАЬIтАЩm very happy for him. He deserves this because he is so focused, he believes so much on himself and his quality and he plays for the team. We need a player like Olivier Giroud,тАЭ Pires said. тАЬI spoke with him this (Monday) morning, and he told me itтАЩs like a dream. When he started, he told me, 51 is too far. And now, he is number one.тАЭ
Pires recalled a chat with Giroud after Les Bleus lifted the trophy four years ago. тАЬHe told me, yeah we won, but I didnтАЩt score. He was a little bit disappointed,тАЭ Pires said. тАЬToday, he has scored goals, he has broken the record and I hope he lifts the trophy.тАЭ
No team has managed to defend its title in six decades. However, Pires reckons this France bunch not only has more experience from four years ago but also greater resolve. “WeтАЩre stronger now on the head, especially the mentality. WeтАЩre focused on this target,” Pires said, adding injury setbacks to key players like Benzema has failed to disrupt the French optimism.
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“We are lucky in France because we have so many good players. We play like a team, and we have some very good quality in the squad.”
Pires likened France’s quarter-final test against England to a rugby contest, “very, very tough”. And is licking his lips at the prospect of one particular battle.
“England and France are very similar. They play 4-3-3 too. We have great talent, so does England. They have good quality, good skills, players who run fast with the ball. Maybe not like Mbappe, but players like Foden, Saka are very good. And I want to see the face-off (between) Mbappe vs Walker. Just for the speed. It should be electric.”
And who does he fancy seeing on the evening of December 18?
“I want to see the same final like in 1998,” Pires, part of that final in which France beat Brazil 3-0 at home, said with a smile.”Both are great teams, have very good players. Should be good, no? Brazil and France in Doha.
“And the winner isтАжFrance.”
