Mbappé worried France for a while: after opening the match with a great goal, he asked to be substituted

Kylian Mbappé, France's star forward, caused a brief scare during the World Cup quarter-final against Morocco when he signaled for a substitution after scoring the opening goal. The incident occurred in the 32nd minute of the second half, with Jean-Philippe Mateta coming on to replace him. Mbappé had already been seen touching his right ankle multiple times during the match.

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I am okay, I took a knock, but I am okay. I think at that moment JP (Jean-Philippe Mateta) was more prepared than me to play the last fifteen minutes, so I go out and he comes in. He came in very well, he could even have scored, so it's very positive.

Following his exit from the field, images showed Mbappé with ice on his ankle, which could have heightened concerns among French supporters. However, the situation appeared to improve shortly after the match concluded. Mbappé was seen walking without difficulty, interacting with teammates, and engaging with the crowd, offering positive signals regarding his fitness for the upcoming semi-final.

Mbappé later addressed the incident, assuring that he was "okay" after receiving a knock. He explained that his substitution was partly tactical, suggesting Mateta was better prepared for the remaining minutes. "I think at that moment JP (Jean-Philippe Mateta) was more prepared than me to play the last fifteen minutes, so I go out and he comes in. He came in very well, he could even have scored, so it's very positive," Mbappé stated.

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We are in the semi-finals. There is still a long way to go and we are aware that what awaits us is even tougher than what we have been through, but we are prepared.

Looking ahead to the semi-finals, where France will face the winner of the Spain vs. Belgium match, Mbappé stressed that the team remains focused and ambitious. He emphasized that the only way for the team to relax is by winning the tournament. "We are in the semi-finals. There is still a long way to go and we are aware that what awaits us is even tougher than what we have been through, but we are prepared," he said. Mbappé also highlighted the importance of maintaining concentration and readiness for the challenges ahead.

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I don’t know if it is a mission, perhaps I think it is the easiest term to use. I think we are aware that there is only one way to relax, and that is to win. As long as we haven’t done that, I don’t see why we should relax.