Foxborough will see the three best strikers in the world in Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland, and Harry Kane
Foxborough’s Schaefer Stadium opened as home to the Patriots in 1971. But, from early on, Foxborough shared space with soccer’s greatest scorers, from SL Benfica’s Eusébio, through to Lionel Messi at Gillette Stadium last year.
Now, during the World Cup, Foxborough will feature three of the modern game’s most prolific forwards: Norway’s Erling Braut Haaland and England’s Harry Kane, their nation’s all-time highest scorers; and France’s Kylian Mbappé, who entered the tournament one off Les Bleus’ mark.
All three are following up league-leading seasons. Haaland topped the Premier League (27 goals) with Manchester City. Kane earned the European Golden Shoe award (36 goals for Bayern Munich in Germany’s Bundesliga). Mbappé led Spain’s La Liga (25 goals) and the Champions League (15 goals) for Real Madrid.
It can be difficult to break though against high-level defenses in the World Cup, but if these three are on the mark, there could be some explosive matches in Foxborough over the next two weeks. Haaland will make two Group I appearances, versus Iraq on Tuesday, June 16, and against France and Mbappé on June 26. Kane and England face Ghana in a Group L showdown on June 23.
Going into the event, their combined lifetime total in all competitions stood at 1,318 goals. Kane, 32, led the way with 532 goals (79 for England). The future, though, could belong to Haaland, 25, and Mbappé, 27. Mbappé has 432 goals (56 for France). Haaland has 354 goals (55 in 50 games for Norway).
The three threaten via varying styles. Haaland and Kane are classic “No. 9s,” back-to-goal center forwards. Mbappé, though, has played as both a center forward and winger at the club level.
Haaland relies on physicality and devastating finishing ability via headers and leftfooted blasts. In Manchester City’s pressing setup, one of Haaland’s priorities is pressuring the opposing goalkeeper. But Haaland seems most effective when free to concentrate on offense first, and that has been the case with Norway — he led European World Cup Qualifying with 16 goals in eight games. Few defenders can match up with Haaland, and they’d rather deal with him chasing them than the other way around.
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Kane brings a tactical approach to the position, providing a point of reference, holding possession, and bringing teammates into the attack. He often retreats behind the halfway line to start the offense, then makes himself available to finish with a well-timed late run. When it comes time to fire away, Kane is efficient, relying as much on skill as power. Kane, who has scored eight times in two World Cups, is coming off his most productive season — 61 goals (51 games) for Bayern Munich and another eight in 15 matches for England.
With France, Mbappé usually lines up as a single forward. The idea is to get him isolated, so he can use speed and skill in one-on-one situations. France does have a so-called “true No. 9” with Inter’s Marcus Thuram, son of Lilian Thuram, who won the 1998 World Cup with Les Bleus. But the roster is loaded with wingers, and coach Didier Deschamps prefers Mbappé, who wears No. 10, up front, partly because his quick runs can stretch defenses.
Mbappé has already converted at Gillette Stadium, in a 2-1 win over Brazil in March, which took him within one of Olivier Giroud on France’s all-time list. On the sequence, Les Bleus capitalized on a turnover near the halfway line. Mbappé then surged onto an Aurelien Tchouameni through ball, leaving Brazilians in the dust.
It was among the most impressive scores at Gillette since the stadium opened in 2002, startling for its velocity and precision, Mbappé dancing over the ball at full throttle, taking a touch, and chipping goalkeeper Ederson. Mbappé made his mark in the World Cup, in 2018 becoming the youngest scorer in a final since Pelé; and in the 2022 final, when he completed a hat trick. With 12 career goals in the tournament, Mbappé is expected to challenge German Miroslav Klose’s record of 16.
Most forwards are known for single-minded obsessiveness and selfishness, but coaches apparently believe some can expand their focus as captains. With Norway, Haaland is heir apparent, and has taken on the role when Martin Odegaard is absent. Kane succeeded Wayne Rooney eight years ago. Mbappé took over from goalkeeper Hugo Lloris following the last World Cup. Like Eusébio and Messi before them, they are expected to put themselves first leading the attack. And, the rest of the time, put the team first, leading by example.
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