The wait for France’s penalty lasted over three minutes.
Then superstar Kylian Mbappé, 27, stepped forward and missed.
– It was a long wait and it is of course mentally stressful, says Vicki Blommé, expert at TV4.
24.32 into the quarter-final between France and Morocco, the Argentine referee Facundo Tello blew his whistle.
He pointed to the penalty spot after Kylian Mbappé was brought down by Noussair Mazraoui in the penalty area.
Then there was a very long wait for everyone.
VAR reviewed the situation and Mbappé was, among other things, in front and changed the position of the ball twice.
Talked to the judge
At 27.45, more than three minutes later, Mbappé hit the penalty which was saved by goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, who threw himself in the right direction.
– It is clear that he (Mbappé) is frustrated. It was disturbing. It was noticed when he was in front a couple of times (and adjusted the ball), says TV4 expert Vicki Blommé in the broadcast.
When it was time for the water break a short time later, Mbappé was in front and talking to the head referee.
– It takes too long. It’s hard when you have to wait. The pressure builds up, it takes longer and the goalkeeper comes out and can psych himself up more. It creates this irritation. I understand Kylian Mbappé 110 percent, says John Guidetti, TV4 expert.
Yassine Bounou saved his fourth World Cup penalty kick and it is the most penalty saves since the 1966 World Cup, according to the statistics company Opt out.
The match is in progress – you can follow it here!
