India, July 5 -- France head coach Didier Deschamps has thrown his weight behind Kylian Mbappe after fresh questions over the forward's leadership style, insisting that the France captain's public image is nothing like the player he sees inside the national team dressing room.

Mbappe was again at the centre of France's World Cup campaign on Saturday, converting the decisive penalty in a tense 1-0 win over Paraguay that sent Les Bleus into the FIFA World Cup 2026 quarterfinals. But beyond the goal, the match also became another test of his temperament, with Paraguay turning the Round of 16 tie into a physical, disruptive contest in Philadelphia.

Deschamps was asked after the match whether Mbappe's restraint and leadership showed that he ...