EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ -- The foundation of France's 1998 World Cup win was the bond between coach Aime Jacquet and his captain, Didier Deschamps. Now, 28 years later, a strikingly similar connection between coach Deschamps and his captain, Kylian Mbappe, is fueling France's charge for another title.
This unity was on full display after France's 3-0 win over Sweden. When Mbappe scored, he ran directly to embrace Deschamps, who had just returned from his mother's funeral. The entire team followed, wrapping their coach in a spontaneous group hug.
At the center of it all is Mbappe. The captain has six goals and two assists in this tournament, but his impact goes far beyond statistics. He is a vocal leader, defending teammates like Ousmane Dembele and publicly prioritizing team glory above all else.
The memory of the 2022 final loss, where Mbappe's hat-trick was not enough, has shaped his approach. He is no longer just the marksman supreme but a determined leader carrying his team forward.
Deschamps has praised this evolution. "Kylian knows how to defend. He's on a mission," the coach said. "The image people have of him from the outside rarely reflects who he really is."
After the match, Mbappe spoke with clarity. "I'm fully aware of what's at stake," he said. "The tribute to Didier? That's the DNA of this group. We're all in this together."
Deschamps summarized their shared purpose: "They're on a mission, and I'm on a mission with them."