World Cup 2022: the image that could explain Kylian Mbappé’s explosion of joy after Kane’s missed penalty

As the ball flew into the stands, bringing the Blues closer to the last four of the competition at the same time, the PSG striker let his joy explode. The images of the Parisian, all smiles, sparked a wave of criticism across the Channel.

Report from Bondy, in the Paris suburbs, where the phenomenon Kylian Mbappé grew up: “At 3 years old, he was already begging me to take him to the stadium”

This reaction – which some considered excessive and provocative – could well be explained by pre-match facts. While the players were waiting in the tunnel to get on the pitch, Kylian Mbappé wanted to wish Kyle Walker a good game by clapping him in the hand. But the English striker simply denied the gesture of his French counterpart. Mbappé, visibly surprised and ill at ease, contented himself with a facade smile, but that said a lot about what happened next.

During the match, the tension between the two rival players was indeed palpable. And the friction grew worse as the minutes passed. Until this excessive reaction from Mbappé at the very end of the game.

Anyway, the Blues finally emerged victorious from this quarter-final and will face Morocco in the semi-finals on Wednesday. A meeting that also promises to be under tension.