Mbappe raises “violent controversy” with his behavior with Tuchel

France forward Kylian Mbappe sparked widespread controversy after he appeared to laugh and joke with England coach Thomas Tuchel at half-time in the first-half match to decide third and fourth places at the World Cup despite France scoring four clean sheets in the first 45 minutes.

Cameras showed Mbappe laughing with his former coach Tuchel at Paris Saint-Germain in a scene that angered French fans, especially as the France star appeared to be oblivious to his country’s crushing defeat.

A stark contrast to his statements

The stance is in stark contrast to Mbappe’s pre-match statements, where he said the players “didn’t give Deschamps the perfect finish”, referring to their desire to honor their outgoing coach by winning the bronze medal.

But Mbappe’s performance and demeanor were the exact opposite of what he said, as he appeared indifferent to the humiliating first-half defeat to the Roosters, which sparked criticism on social media.

Tuchel oversaw Mbappe’s training at Paris Saint-Germain, which explains the friendly relationship between them, but the timing of the joke raised questions about the extent of the French star’s commitment to his country’s national team and his outgoing coach.

Battle for the best scorers

It is noteworthy that for the title of the best scorer of all time at the 2026 World Cup, Mbappe is competing with Lionel Messi, the star of the Argentine national team, as both are equal with 8 goals. Tomorrow, Sunday, Messi will play with the Spanish national team in the final of the tournament, which gives him an opportunity to advance.