Uruguay, football world fume over 'embarrassing' Mbappe theatrics
Kylian Mbappe thanked Didier Deschamps for his trust as he revealed the France boss shared a private word about his actions in the World Cup quarter-final win over Uruguay.
Paris Saint-Germain star Mbappe attracted the ire of the opposition in the second half when he dropped to the ground after being caught by a soft stray arm from Uruguay midfielder Cristian Rodriguez.
Diego Godin attempted to drag the teenager to his feet, sparking an angry confrontation between the two sets of players including Paul Pogba and Nahitan Nandez.
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Mbappe and Rodriguez were both shown yellow cards for their role in the incident, as France held on to their 2-0 lead to book a place in the final four.
However it wasn’t just the Uruguayans who were incensed by Mbappe’s theatrics, with Twitter blowing up over the issue.
Mbappe trying to be like Neymar?
— Dean Jones (@DeanJonesBR) July 6, 2018
Deary me, can’t imagine where Mbappe learnt that.
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) July 6, 2018
That's a criminal dive from Mbappe, wow. Looks like Rodriguez is tapping him in a little bit of a patronising "ok mate, sure thing" after his trick. Mbappe reacting like he's got a punch, hahahaha.
— Jonathan Fisher (@fishplums) July 6, 2018
🇫🇷 Kylian Mbappé in December:
🗣 "I am learning every day from Neymar. I try to watch all the things he is doing in order to learn as quick as possible."
— SPORF (@Sporf) July 6, 2018
The Mbappe theatrics was just a trailer of what we will witness with Neymar tonight
— Charles 🇧🇪 (@CharlieFlani) July 6, 2018
Neymar watching that Mbappe dive pic.twitter.com/GJ1s6VruAq
— Yassine (@SwishFutbol) July 6, 2018
Mbappe having such a great coming out party at the World Cup and he just takes a blatant dive. Was there even contact? That's embarrassing
— Jason McIntyre (@jasonrmcintyre) July 6, 2018
Lmao that Mbappe dive. Neymar and Ronaldo would be proud.
— Kazi Mahbub (@kmmbd) July 6, 2018
“Didier Deschamps spoke to me at the end of the match about the action where there was the beginning of the scuffle,” Mbappe told French TV station TF1.
“He told me to leave them, do not let them get on my nerves. I told him I was very calm and that I was in control of everything.
“He has always trusted me [and] I try to return it to him on the field.”
France had earlier opened up a comfortable lead courtesy of Raphael Varane’s first-half header and a speculative 61st-minute effort from Antoine Griezmann which slipped through Fernando Muslera’s grasp.
Paul Pogba said Les Bleus had been prepared for a battle for with Oscar Tabarez’s hard-nosed outfit.
“We knew it was going to be less of a technical match, more of a struggle and [about] mental strength,” the Manchester United midfielder told beIN Sports.
“We showed that we are a great team in that we could do it. We had the courage and the result is there, it’s beautiful.”
With Omnisport