‘Mbappe is a phenomenon who scares opponents’

Kylian Mbappe has become a major superstar in this World Cup after his brilliant showing against Lionel Messi’s Argentina. The French forward, only 19 years old, became the youngest player since the legendary Brazilian Pele to score a brace in a World Cup match.

Pele had achieved the feat in 1958 during the final against Sweden in 1958 and in 2018, Mbappe levelled a 60-year World Cup record.

Former France coach Laurent Blac said Mbappe, who possesses incredible pace and agility, scares opponents and that helps the team.

Ahead of France's semi-final against Belgium on Tuesday, Blanc picked out Mbappe as one of the key players for Didier Deschamps' side, who he compared to Les Bleus' last World Cup champions in 1998.

"My opinion on this boy has been very clear for 10 months: he is a phenomenon!" Blanc said to Le Parisien.

"That does not mean that he will make us win all the time.

"He is a boy who scares the opponent. The whole team benefits from the fear that others have of this player. That benefits him and his team-mates too. It will be good for the team.

Belgium too had stars who lit up the World Cup. The former coach picked out Eden Hazard as the key for Belgium.

"[Belgium] also have a phenomenon with Eden Hazard, often the national teams are led by a player above the rest.

"The team of France is led by two players with enormous potential. [Antoine] Griezmann is also very good, [Paul] Pogba can be very good and they are surrounded by good players and they are like us in 1998, if we want to make a comparison."

Blanc observed that there is a belief in France that this team could win them the World Cup again.

"Everyone I meet in the street tells me that we will win the World Cup. Two or three months ago, few thought it.

"France demonstrated they are capable of it. I wish for it, but the hard part starts now. They showed a lot of serenity and maturity. They were superior to Argentina and Uruguay.

"We must continue like this in the face of informed and forewarned opponents. It's getting more complicated, but it needs to keep going,” he said.