Mission possible: Mbappe and Deschamps in perfect harmony as France gather steam

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ, June 30 : France's 1998 World Cup triumph was built on a special bond between coach Aime Jacquet and his on-field lieutenant Didier Deschamps.

Twenty-eight years later, Deschamps the coach has built a strikingly similar relationship with Kylian Mbappe, trusting his captain to carry the entire squad with him as Les Bleus chase another World Cup.

When Mbappe opened the scoring in France's 3-0 victory over Sweden in the last 32 on Tuesday, he sprinted straight to the touchline and into the arms of Didier Deschamps, who had returned four days earlier after attending his mother's funeral.

One by one, every France player followed, surrounding their coach in a spontaneous embrace that spoke volumes about the unity coursing through the squad.

At the heart of it all is Mbappe.

France's captain has arrived at this World Cup on a mission. He has scored six goals and set up two more, but his influence stretches far beyond the scoresheet.

He has publicly defended teammate Ousmane Dembele through difficult moments and repeatedly insisted that nothing matters more than lifting the trophy again.

The scars of Lusail still burn deep.

Mbappe's extraordinary hat-trick in the 2022 final against Argentina was not enough to prevent France surrendering their crown, a painful lesson that even one of the game's greatest talents cannot conquer a World Cup alone.

MARKSMAN SUPREME

Four years on, he is chasing the title not simply as France's marksman supreme, but as the leader of a team he is determined to carry with him.

While he has been criticised for his supposed individualism at Real Madrid, even being portrayed as a dictator on social media, Mbappe has become a unifying figure for Les Bleus, urging Michael Olise to get his head back