France's Kone plays down pressure on Mbappe, backs him to deliver at World Cup

France midfielder Manu Kone has dismissed concerns about the pressure facing captain Kylian Mbappe as the team prepares to begin their World Cup campaign against Senegal. Kone expressed strong faith in Mbappe's proven track record on major stages, highlighting his crucial role in past tournaments.

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More pressure? I don't think so. He's a truly great player who has always risen to the occasion, whether for the national team or his club. We know he's always stepped up at the World Cup. He wants to win it. He's our captain, and he'll do great things. No doubt about it.

Mbappe, who scored a hat-trick in the 2022 World Cup final and had a prolific season for Real Madrid, is expected to lead France's formidable attack. "He's a truly great player who has always risen to the occasion," Kone told reporters. "We know he's always stepped up at the World Cup. He wants to win it. He's our captain, and he'll do great things. No doubt about it."

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Dembele has the freedom to do pretty much whatever he wants - to cut out wide, push forward, and so on. He's a player with exceptional qualities. He can do it all: pass, dribble, score.

The French squad features a wealth of attacking talent, including Ousmane Dembele and Michael Olise. Midfielder Warren Zaire-Emery emphasized the collective strength, noting the exceptional qualities of players like Dembele, Olise, Mbappe, and Marcus Thuram. "We need to take advantage of that and make sure everything works well together to have the best team possible," Zaire-Emery said.

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When you have players like Dembele, like Olise, like Kylian, Marcus Thuram... they just have exceptional qualities. We need to take advantage of that and make sure everything works well together to have the best team possible.

Zaire-Emery also touched upon the intense competition for places within the squad, acknowledging the challenges players face when not consistently starting. He stressed the importance of belief, stating, "When there's a World Cup at the end of the season, it's a goal for every French player. If I don't believe in it, no one else will believe in it for me." France, winners in 1998 and 2018, are grouped with Senegal, Iraq, and Norway.

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When you're not playing as much and your confidence is low, it's always tough. When there's a World Cup at the end of the season, it's a goal for every French player. If I don't believe in it, no one else will believe in it for me.