Kylian Mbappe called his failed attempt to chip the goalkeeper near the end of France's victory over Ukraine in their World Cup 2026 qualification opener "foolishness." The France striker delivered a candid assessment of both the team's performance and his own ambitious move that didn't come off as planned.
"It was foolishness. Such gestures are nice only when they succeed. If they don't work out — it's just foolishness. Next time I need to either score or not do such things at all," – Mbappe admitted after the match.
The "Les Bleus" forward was generally satisfied with his team's display against Ukraine in the first round of World Cup qualification. France controlled most of the game despite experiencing what Mbappe described as "a moment of instability" during the second half.
He highlighted the team's offensive capabilities during the fixture. "We easily created chances and threats, moved well," noted the striker. "We could have increased the score, could have scored more — we have things to work on, but this is already a good start."
According to Mbappe, the Ukrainian side proved to be challenging opponents who gave their all on the pitch. This didn't prevent the French team from dominating the game, however, fulfilling their coach's desire to begin the qualification campaign on a positive note.
France will next face Iceland at home in their second qualification match. Will Mbappe opt for more straightforward finishing techniques in that encounter? We'll have to wait and see.
