Kylian Mbappe scored twice as France turn things around to beat Senegal 3-1 in their World Cup opening match.
It wasn’t just a big win for the Blues, but also a big one for Mbappe who climbed into first position all time scorer for national team ahead of Giroud.
The opening 45 minutes saw a version of France that lacked the fluidity and clinical edge expected of their star-studded lineup.
Senegal, organized and physically imposing, dominated the midfield and created the more significant scoring opportunities.
Early in the match, Senegal’s Nicolas Jackson sent a strike against the post, and Ismaila Sarr missed a golden opportunity to put the African side ahead.
France appeared disjointed, struggling to connect their passes and failing to break through a compact Senegalese defensive block led by the resolute Kalidou Koulibaly.
At the interval, the 0-0 scoreline felt like a reprieve for Didier Deschamps’ men, who were visibly frustrated by their lack of progress.
Whatever words were exchanged in the French dressing room during halftime clearly had an impact.
Emerging with newfound intensity, Les Bleus transformed their game almost immediately. Michael Olise, who would go on to be a creative focal point throughout the second half, began threading dangerous balls through the Senegalese lines.
The deadlock was finally broken in the 66th minute. Olise delivered a precise, weighted pass into the path of Kylian Mbappé, who timed his run perfectly before clinicaly slotting the ball past Edouard Mendy.
The goal ignited the French attack, and suddenly, the team looked like the tournament favorite pundits had tipped.
With the pressure lifted, France began to control the space, eventually finding a second goal in the 82nd minute when substitute Bradley Barcola finished a fluid attacking move initiated by Adrien Rabiot.
The final minutes provided a brief, thrilling sequence that defined the match’s intensity. Both national team were not done with each other as they pushed for more.
In the 90th minute, Senegal teenager Ibrahim Mbaye rewarded his team’s persistence with a brilliant individual goal, narrowing the gap to 2-1 and momentarily silencing the stadium as thoughts of a comeback began to stir.
However, any hopes of a draw were immediately extinguished. Just seconds after the restart, Kylian Mbappé produced a moment of pure brilliance.
From outside the penalty area, the French captain launched a blistering strike into the back of the net.
The goal not only sealed a 3-1 victory but also marked a historic personal milestone which was Mbappé’s 58th goal for his country, making him the outright all-time leading goalscorer in the history of the French national team.
The result provides France with the perfect start to their Group I campaign, offering them a significant confidence boost heading into their next clash against Iraq on June 22.
For Senegal, despite the loss, the performance suggests they remain a formidable opponent capable of causing trouble in their upcoming match against Norway.
The match at MetLife Stadium will be remembered not just for the scoreline, but for the stark contrast between a stagnant opening and the ruthless, record-breaking efficiency that ultimately defined France’s path to victory.
The France national team was able to overcome Senegal and produced a master class which will send strong warning to other teams in the group.
