Euro 2024: Why Kylian Mbappe’s Form Has Been Poor, Ex Chelsea Star Explains Ahead of Spain Clash

• Kylian Mbappe's form at the 2024 Euros has come under the spotlight, with the French captain struggling to live up to expectation
• A former Chelsea and Arsenal star has come to his defence, explaining why the new Real Madrid signing is yet to hit his strides
• He will have another opportunity to respond to his critics when France takes on Spain in a blockbuster semi-final tie on Tuesday, July 9

Kylian Mbappe's form at the 2024 UEFA European Championship has been underwhelming despite France's advancement to the semi-finals.

The French captain has featured in four of Les Bleus's five games thus far, scoring only once—a stark contrast to his usual high standards.

How has Mbappe and France performed at Euro 2024?

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According to The Analyst, the Real Madrid-bound forward has managed just one goal from 34 attempts at the European Championship (3%), compared to 12 goals from 39 shots (31% conversion rate) at the World Cup.

Mbappe's less-than-ideal performance reflects the broader struggles of the French team, which has fallen short of pre-tournament expectations.

The two-time champions, who last won the competition in 2000, have been uncharacteristically ineffective up front. They have failed to score from open play and have secured just two victories in 90 minutes so far.

Why Kylian Mbappe has been poor at Euro 2024?

Former Chelsea and Arsenal forward Nicolas Anelka offered insights into why Mbappe has not found his form. Anelka suggested that the 25-year-old is facing multiple challenges.

One significant factor is the mask Mbappe has been wearing due to a nose injury sustained in France's opener against Austria.

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Anelka implied that the mask has hindered rather than helped him.

Moreover, the 45-year-old noted that opposition defences have made Mbappe a priority, often neutralizing him with two to three defenders whenever he has possession.

“Mbappe’s form? Kylian has two or three players on him every time, and on top of that, he has nose injuries, so it’s difficult to make a difference in these conditions," he said, as cited by MadridXtra.

Despite underlining the challenges the former Paris Saint-Germain stalwart has faced, Anelka remains confident in his abilities.

"But he’s a fearsome player who can score at any time, and he will prove it. You will see! It's been a good season. He always has good stats, but people always want more."

Mbappe among worst finishers at Euro 2024

In a related publication, Sports Brief reported that Kylian Mbappe is among the worst finishers at the 2024 Euros.

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Although he scored his first goal of the tournament from the penalty spot, he has struggled to perform at his best, partly because he played with a mask after suffering a broken nose.

He would hope to change the narrative in the semi-finals when France faces Spain.