PSG stars Mbappe and Hakimi set for epic World Cup ‘duel’ | Qatar World Cup 2022 Information
The 2 mates will change into rivals on Wednesday as France tackle Morocco within the World Cup semifinal.
They stand shoulder to shoulder when dealing with one of the best groups in Europe – enjoying week in, week out as teammates within the devastating lineup of Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). They hang around off the pitch. They usually’ve even gone on vacation collectively.
However all that may change when the whistle blows in Al Bayt Stadium on Wednesday night time. For no less than 90 minutes, France’s Kylian Mbappe and Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi can be arch-foes, hell-bent on beating the opposite for a spot within the World Cup ultimate.
Throughout a PSG journey earlier this yr to Qatar, the location of the 2022 World Cup, they raised the prospect of dealing with one another.
“I’ve to destroy my good friend,” Mbappe joked in a brief video message. “It would break my coronary heart a bit of bit, however you already know, that’s soccer. I’ve to kill him.”
Hakimi’s response? “I’m going to smash him,” the 24-year-old Moroccan wing-back mentioned with a smile.
Throwback to January 2022, when Kylian Mbappé predicted he would face Achraf Hakimi on the World Cup:
Mbappé: “I must destroy my good friend… It would break my coronary heart a bit of however that is soccer.”
Hakimi: “I’ll smash him.”
🎥 @beinsports_FR pic.twitter.com/L5Mh3mCW1u
— Soccer Tweet ⚽ (@Football__Tweet) December 12, 2022
It’s a face-off being relished by soccer followers all all over the world. Each males are quick. Actually quick. Mbappe was clocked reaching 35.6km/h (22.1mph) throughout this season’s UEFA Champions League. Hakimi additionally hit 35km/h.
It’s not nearly pace, although. In line with the number crunchers, Hakimi completes extra passes (a median of 91 in a 90-minute sport, in contrast with Mbappe’s 84) and wins extra challenges (53 per 90 for Hakimi, simply 32 for Mbappe).
However Mbappe scores many extra objectives.
Defensively, Hakimi’s report is stellar. Nobody has but been capable of rating in opposition to Morocco on this match: the one objective they’ve conceded was an personal objective.
However Hakimi is not going to simply be tasked with stopping France’s 23-year-old celebrity Mbappe. He has attacking obligations of his personal, with Morocco seeking to strike on the counter of their video games on the World Cup up to now.
“It’s going to be an important duel between the 2,” Morocco head coach Walid Regragui informed reporters on Tuesday. “They’re each champions, world-class gamers they usually’re each going to be going at it.
“We needs to be specializing in what we will do to trigger issues for France … we’re going to need to counter the specter of Kylian. However I’ve little doubt that Hakimi can be on prime type to get the higher of his good friend.”
The friendship is evident: they rejoice objectives with the identical penguin dance routine, they went on vacation to Spain collectively, they usually’ve reportedly even been noticed hanging out in Qatar collectively.
“It’s a pleasure to have him by my aspect. He is likely one of the finest gamers on the earth, however above all, he’s my good friend. I really like him,” Hakimi informed Telefoot.
❤️❤️❤️
— Kylian Mbappé (@KMbappe) December 10, 2022
