Soccer-Mbappe relishing another encounter with hero Ronaldo
By Mark Gleeson
HAMBURG, Germany, July 4 (Reuters) -Kylian Mbappe is relishing another encounter with boyhood hero Cristiano Ronaldo, whose posters he used to stick on his bedroom wall, when France take on Portugal in the European Championship quarter-final on Friday.
Mbappe was only 10 when he met the Portuguese great for the first time, cheekily asking for his boots after sneaking into the press area at the conclusion of the 2009 Champions League clash between Olympique de Marseille and Real Madrid, and he still regards the 39-year-old as an idol.
"It's an honour to play against him, everyone knows the admiration I have for the player. We are in contact. He asks me about what's going on in my life and he gives me tips and it's an honour for me, especially when you think about what he's done for the footballing world," Mbappe told a press conference.
"He’s one of a kind... there will never be another Cristiano Ronaldo. He has shaped football. He inspires and has inspired generations. He has scored goals, he's won cups, his CV speaks for itself.
"So total respect for him but I hope that tomorrow he will be not as happy because I hope that it'll be us going to the semi-finals."
Mbappe predicted a tight tussle, saying "small details" will be decisive in the clash at the Volksparkstadion.
"The Euros are always a tight race, it's always a very difficult competition for us. Now you’ve only got huge teams left competing, and you need to be on top of every little detail, be it upfront or defending," he said.
"During our training sessions, there were improvements, we were working on our finishing and our intensity. We worked as best we could with the time that we had. But we're ready and raring to go for tomorrow."
France have had four days to recuperate since Monday’s narrow 1-0 win over Belgium, which has also been more time for Mbappe to get used the face mask he has had to wear since breaking his nose in their opening game of the tournament.
He described it as horrible previously but on Thursday had dampened his disdain.
"If the truth be told, I'm lucky because without the mask, I wouldn't be here, I wouldn't be playing. I should be thanking the mask. I told you how I felt and that’s not going to change tomorrow, or right up until the end of the competition," he said.
Editing by Christian Radnedge
Latest News
Disclaimer: The XM Group entities provide execution-only service and access to our Online Trading Facility, permitting a person to view and/or use the content available on or via the website, is not intended to change or expand on this, nor does it change or expand on this. Such access and use are always subject to: (i) Terms and Conditions; (ii) Risk Warnings; and (iii) Full Disclaimer. Such content is therefore provided as no more than general information. Particularly, please be aware that the contents of our Online Trading Facility are neither a solicitation, nor an offer to enter any transactions on the financial markets. Trading on any financial market involves a significant level of risk to your capital.
All material published on our Online Trading Facility is intended for educational/informational purposes only, and does not contain – nor should it be considered as containing – financial, investment tax or trading advice and recommendations; or a record of our trading prices; or an offer of, or solicitation for, a transaction in any financial instruments; or unsolicited financial promotions to you.
Any third-party content, as well as content prepared by XM, such as: opinions, news, research, analyses, prices and other information or links to third-party sites contained on this website are provided on an “as-is” basis, as general market commentary, and do not constitute investment advice. To the extent that any content is construed as investment research, you must note and accept that the content was not intended to and has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and as such, it would be considered as marketing communication under the relevant laws and regulations. Please ensure that you have read and understood our Notification on Non-Independent Investment. Research and Risk Warning concerning the foregoing information, which can be accessed here.
