French wonderkid Kylian Mbappe was made the scapegoat for France's failure at the Euro 2020 after missing the decisive penalty earlier this year.
Two of the European Championship바카라™s biggest disappointments face each other in the Nations League semifinal in Turin. Kylian MbappĂ© and the France team are looking for redemption in the Nations League, much like its opponent Belgium. (More football News)
MbappĂ© was made somewhat of a scapegoat for France바카라™s failure at Euro 2020 after missing the decisive penalty in the shootout in France바카라™s loss to Switzerland in the round of 16.
The 22-year-old forward was criticized by the fans and even his teammates, with Olivier Giroud saying that certain individuals were not passing to him going into France바카라™s opener against Germany.
In a far-reaching interview this week, Mbappé said he was made to feel like a problem for the French national team and that he would have liked more support from his teammates. However, France coach Didier Deschamps didn't want to address Mbappé's concerns with the media.
바카라śListen, I don바카라™t know what he said, I don바카라™t read those things, it doesn바카라™t interest me,바카라ť Deschamps said. 바카라śThe most important thing is that I saw him, we talked about this and that, like we did long before you heard the interview. ... What바카라™s most important for me is the discussions I have internally and directly with the player.
바카라śKylian is happy to be here and, like all his teammates, he바카라™s waiting for tomorrow. What바카라™s happened, happened. We can바카라™t go back, neither him, nor me, nor anyone. So what바카라™s important is today and tomorrow.바카라ť
World champion France was one of the favorites to win Euro 2020 and its loss to Switzerland came as a big shock 바카라” not least because Les Bleus were leading 3-1 with 15 minutes remaining. Despite having a squad packed with talent, France failed to set the tournament alight and only won one match, its opener against Germany.
Deschamps was asked if winning the Nations League had become more important following France바카라™s failure in the summer. 바카라śHonestly, no,바카라ť he said. 바카라śWe can바카라™t change what happened.바카라ť
Top-ranked Belgium is also looking to atone for a disappointing Euro 2020 campaign. Italy beat Belgium 2-1 in the quarterfinals on the Azzurri바카라™s way to becoming European champion.
Belgium will also have revenge on its mind as the last time it met France was in the semifinals of the 2018 World Cup, when Roberto MartĂnez바카라™s side lost 1-0.
바카라śThere was a big frustration,바카라ť Belgium midfielder Youri Tielemans said when asked about how the team was in the dressing room immediately after that match. 바카라śI don바카라™t want to recall it too much because when you play a big tournament like that and you come so close to the final. You can almost touch it. ... It was tough.바카라ť
While Belgium's Thorgan Hazard 바카라” brother of Real Madrid star Eden Hazard 바카라” was ruled out of the game on Wednesday, there could still be a pair of siblings on the field. Lucas Hernandez (Bayern Munich) and Theo Hernandez (AC Milan) could line up together for France in defense and midfield.
바카라śIt hasn바카라™t happened (with France) for a long time, I think the last time was the Revelli brothers (Herve and Patrick) in the early 1970s,바카라ť Deschamps said. 바카라śI won바카라™t look at them as two brothers but as two players.바카라ť
The winner will face Spain in Sunday바카라™s final in Milan. Spain beat European champion Italy 2-1 in their semifinal.