Special correspondent in Amsterdam
Johan Cruyff Arena on Friday evening. Midnight is approaching and the Blues join the French team bus one by one to leave Amsterdam. Direction Lille in preparation for the friendly match against Scotland on Tuesday evening. Without saying a word, duty accomplished, Kylian Mbappé appears in front of the media while some of his partners answer questions after the victory against the Netherlands (1-2), synonymous with qualification for the Euro. Author of a double (his 7th with the selection) which puts him ahead of Michel Platini (4th with 42 goals) in the hierarchy of the best scorers in the history of the selection, the captain of the Blues “responded with his feet” to the great pleasure of Didier Deschamps. Here he is now chasing Antoine Griezmann (44), Thierry Henry (51) and Olivier Giroud (54). The question is not if it will surpass them but when. Time will do its work but the mark that the Parisian is leaving is beyond all comprehension. The very definition of a legend.
Indispensable on the pitch and guided by the desire to make an impression on Friday evening, the PSG striker, silent for four club matches, came out of his box twice to extinguish the 55,000 Dutch spectators. In the French ranks, everyone laughs, as always, at being able to count on one of the best players on the planet. “He was exceptional,” says Ibrahima Konaté, more than ever under the spell of his captain. Same story with Lucas Hernandez, selection and club partner since this summer in Paris. “For me, it’s number one,” says the smiling left-hander in the corridors of the Johan Cruyff Arena. He has no limits. It’s up to him to continue like this because it does us incredible good. He’s a unique player. »
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Relaunched on the second goal scored by the kid from Bondy, a magnificent strike from the right from outside the area, Hernandez spreads praise and respect. “I see him every day… He is capable of anything. I am lucky to have him in the selection and in the club. Hoping that he continues like this…” Mourning this week by the loss of a loved one and under the fire of (small) criticism after his poor form at club, due in particular to a truncated preparation with PSG and an update After several weeks, he responded in the best possible way. By guiding the Blues towards qualification for the Euro and disgusting Ronald Koeman’s men, all forced to salute his domination after the meeting. On the field, he continued to spread fear and fear towards a Batavian defense on its guard but not far from conceding a third goal from the candidate for the Ballon d’Or.
“He sets the record straight a little,” attests “DD” with a smile. The Dutch team remained cautious, but when he is finishing, he has this above average quality that makes him this extraordinary player. He made the necessary efforts, I even saw him on the right when he had to compensate, in his role as leader, it is important for the rest of the group. » Asked about his captain, Adrien Rabiot, delicious passer in the one-two of the second goal, goes in this direction. “We never doubted, we do tons because it’s Kylian, if he doesn’t score very often that’s a problem, he’s very good in this group, he did the job, we’re all very thrilled. » With 42 goals in 72 selections – identical figures to Michel Platini except that Mbappé is only 24 years old (!) – the captain of the France team played his role with splendor and brilliance. Europe has already been warned for next summer.
