Kylian Mbappé is rewriting the World Cup record books, and his first game in the tournament has already made a significant impact. He surpassed Pelé on the World Cup goal-scoring list and moved closer to setting the overall goal record for the tournament.
Iraq coach Graham Arnold, tasked with slowing down Mbappé and France, jokingly suggested that he needed three goalkeepers to stop the 2022 Golden Boot trophy winner. "I asked if we could play three goalkeepers," Arnold said with a laugh on Sunday. "But they said no."
Mbappé, who will play his 100th international game for France, is on the verge of another milestone. He has already scored 14 World Cup goals, including two in the tournament-opening victory against Senegal. "It's always a pleasure to be able to play on the national team," Mbappé said. "There's nothing bigger than the national team. One hundred, that's historic. All the more when it's the World Cup."
Mbappé's impressive record has sparked debate about whether he could become the greatest World Cup player of all time. However, Mbappé remains focused on the task at hand. "It's debate for the people," Mbappé said. "It's debate for the journalists, debate for the fans of football. I think it's good to debate about players. See who's the best. For me, it's not a question in my head. It's just about how can I help my team tomorrow against Iraq and can I bring the trophy home in July."
Preparing for the Challenge
Iraq coach Graham Arnold is preparing his team for the challenge ahead, but he hasn't decided on his goalkeeper for Monday's game. "We can’t control France’s performance, but we can control our own," Arnold said. "And we’re making sure that the players are completely ready to go out there and show the world what they’re about."
Showing Respect
Iraq earned praise for their sportsmanship after their loss to Norway. The team cleaned up their locker room and left a heartfelt note that said, "Thank you, Boston." "They made the mess," Arnold said, "so then they cleaned it up. Out of respect for who we are and where we are. It was great leadership."
