France fan reacts to being knocked out by Mbappe ‘missile’ ahead of 2022 World Cup semi-final

• Incident occurred prior to meeting with Morocco
• Supporter can remember little about it
• Does have a memento to take home

WHAT HAPPENED?Les Bleus were readying themselves for a 2022 World Cup semi-final clash with Morocco when Paris Saint-Germain superstar Mbappe found that his pre-match radar was a little off. A fierce drive missed the target and sailed into the crowd, knocking out a rather bewildered fan who did not see the strike coming and could recall little of the incident when eventually coming to.

WHAT THEY SAID:Guillaume, the fan in question, told BFM TV of his rather unique experience in Qatar after being gifted the ball that cannoned into him: “I have in my hands the missile that hit me head-on. I've been here since the start of the World Cup, I've joined the French group and I've dedicated myself to being the drummer of the cheer group. I was beating the drum when this beautiful object [refers to the ball] came to hit me and knocked me unconscious.”

He added: “I fell on the fans in front of me, I was completely stunned. I heard noise and people screaming for Kylian. I hardly have any recollection of what was happening. I only saw afterwards the images that showed Kylian coming towards me. I was stunned, stunned. Apparently he fired from outside the box. It was Olivier Giroud who informed him that something had happened in the stands.”

THE BIGGER PICTURE:Mbappe found himself off target throughout a last-four showdown with Morocco, but efforts from Theo Hernandez and Randal Kolo Muani were enough to see France through to the 2022 World Cup final.

IN TWO PHOTOS:

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WHAT NEXT?Didier Deschamps’ defending champions are now set to face a Lionel Messi-inspired Argentina in the showpiece event in Qatar, with France looking to become the first nation since Brazil in 1962 to claim back-to-back World Cup crowns.