Euro 2024: France hoping captain Kylian Mbappé can finally deliver against Spain in semi
- At 25, Mbappé should be in the prime of his footballing life, but Real Madrid’s new signing has not played anywhere near his best in Germany
France go into Tuesday’s Euro 2024 semi-final showdown against Spain hoping Kylian Mbappé can finally produce a performance worthy of his superstar status at a tournament in which he has struggled to find form and fitness.
The match in Munich is a mouthwatering prospect and a huge occasion in particular for Mbappé, in his first major tournament captaining his country and just before he starts a new chapter in his career at Real Madrid.
At 25, and having just completed his dream move to the Champions League winners, Mbappé should be in the prime of his footballing life.
But the man who won the World Cup as a teenager, and scored an incredible hat-trick in the 2022 final in Qatar, has not been able to play anywhere near his best at the European Championship.
Mbappé joined up with the France squad after a difficult final campaign at Paris Saint-Germain that was marred by a slightly messy divorce from the club as his playing time was reduced.
Already floundering to some extent physically and lacking his usual explosive edge, a broken nose in Les Bleus’ opening game at the tournament against Austria has further diminished him.
