Within the blue nook, Kylian Mbappe stands tall because the undisputed champion of the world. Within the purple nook, Achraf Hakimi is a battle away from one of many best underdog tales of all time.
They’re team-mates and good pals however Mbappe and Hakimi should park all congeniality on Wednesday as France and Morocco go head-to-head for a spot within the World Cup remaining.
Not solely will the Paris Saint-Germain stars share the pitch on the Al Bayt Stadium, however the pair will stand up shut and private with Hakimi set to mark the French star on the left flank.
Shut pals Kylian Mbappe (L) and Achraf Hakimi (R) will go head-to-head within the semi-finals
The PSG team-mates have been shut pals for the reason that Moroccan star joined the membership in 2021
Ranked fourth on this planet by FIFA, France little question head into the semi-final because the Goliath. Blessed with a dressing room of skilled superstars, Didier Deschamps arguably boasts essentially the most horrifying assault left within the competitors, even and not using a sure 35-year-old Argentine.
Mbappe is the event’s joint prime scorer with 5 targets thus far – however that will not faze Morocco’s fearless defence.
The World Cup’s giant-killers, who knocked down Spain and Portugal en path to the final 4, have saved 4 clear sheets in 5 matches in Qatar, valuing organised and decided defending above all else.
Mbappe has guided France to the final 4 because the World Cup’s prime scorer with 5 targets
To this point, Mbappe and Hakimi have supported one another. After the right-back’s decisive penalty within the shoot-out towards Spain, France’s talisman took to Twitter to congratulate his team-mate.
‘ACHRAF HAKIMI,’ he wrote emphatically in assist of his shut pal, earlier than later posting {a photograph} of the pair collectively in Qatar.
His capitalised tweet referred to as again to a press release he posted to Twitter in English again in January. ‘ACHRAF HAKIMI, THE BEST RB IN THE WORLD,’ he claimed.
England’s Kyle Walker was labelled, no less than amongst Three Lions followers, as the one man able to stopping France’s irresistible drive. However so far as Mbappe is worried, a harder check awaits on Wednesday.
Hakimi has performed a key function in Morocco’s defence, conceding only one aim in 5 matches
Hakimi and Mbappe aren’t simply good pals. Based on L’Equipe, the PSG duo have ‘shared every thing’ for 15 months for the reason that right-back’s arrival on the membership.
Born only a month aside, Mbappe, 23, and Hakimi, 24, solid a particular friendship quickly after the latter joined PSG in the summertime of 2021.
‘Kylian was one of many first who went to speak to Achraf when he arrived,’ a Parc de Princes insider informed the French newspaper.
‘He instantly tried to assist him. Kylian spoke Spanish and I feel he wished to proceed practising that language.
When Hakimi arrived in France in 2021, Mbappe launched the right-back to Parisian tradition
The French ahead claimed his PSG team-mate was one of the best right-back on this planet in January
‘Then they’re (roughly) the identical age. They’ve frolicked in one another’s rooms. You do not have to look additional – they discovered one another.’
Through the early levels of Hakimi’s PSG profession, Mbappe virtually chaperoned the Moroccan, going far past the tasks of a key participant on the pitch.
Not solely did the ahead give Hakimi an expensive perception into Parisian tradition, taking him to modern eating places in and across the metropolis, he reportedly suggested him on housing and launched him to his circle of family and friends.
Mbappe has constantly supported his shut pal on social media all through the World Cup
By means of Mbappe, Hakimi met the Frenchman’s private barber and shut pal Brice Tchaga, who first started styling the ahead’s hair throughout his time at Monaco.
The trio have since spent quite a lot of time collectively, assembly up at one another’s homes, attending opulent style reveals and enjoying video video games, amongst different actions.
L’Equipe has even reported that Hakimi would contemplate his future on the French capital have been his pal to depart the Parc de Princes.
Mbappe (L), his private hairdresser Brice Tchaga (C) and Hakimi (R) are all very shut pals
Through the early levels of the World Cup, Mbappe visited the Moroccan coaching camp throughout a day without work to see Hakimi and ship his finest needs.
Few backed Morocco to advance to the semi-finals – the earliest level at which Mbappe and Hakimi might meet on the pitch in Qatar – however the French megastar claimed the pair would face off on the World Cup again in Could.
‘Right here, we (France) will play towards my pal, I should destroy him. It should break my coronary heart. I’ll smash it,’ Mbappe light-heartedly informed PSG TV on a coaching camp in Doha final summer time.
Morocco haven’t made a particular plan to cease France’s talisman based on Walid Regragui
Morocco boss Walid Regragui revealed on Tuesday that Hakimi is ‘extremely motivated’ forward of the competition.
‘They’re two champions, who received’t be giving freely any presents. Achraf is extremely motivated to beat his pal,’ he mentioned.
On Wednesday, the world will see whether or not friendship is the ingredient that fuels Mbappe or proves to be his Achilles’ heel.
