France, one of the strongest teams in this World Cup (if not the strongest), debuted this Tuesday (16) against the also very consistent Senegal and won 3-1 with two goals from Kylian Mbappé. The Frenchman surpassed Lionel Messi and Just Fontaine’s number of goals in World Cups, with 14. The record is held by Miroslav Klose, with 16.
Both teams went through their qualifiers without losing a single game. The match, which took place at MetLife Stadium, in New Jersey, United States, is a repeat of the teams’ debut in 2002when Les Blues lost to the Africans after becoming champions in 1998in one of the biggest upsets in the history of World Cups.
Unlike that edition, a victory for Senegal would not be a surprise. With stars like Sadio Mané and Kalidou Koulibaly, the team reached the final of the African Cup of Nations three times in the last four editions.
In the first half, the Africans managed to neutralize the constellation in the hands of Didier Deschamps. Kylian Mbappé failed to score even once on goal in the first half.
In the second stage, France showed up and crushed Senegal. Kylian Mbappé scored after receiving the ball in the box and turning to hit it with his right leg. Barcola expanded.
The additions also saved two great goalsboth from Senegal and France. Ibrahim Mbaye and Mbappé closed the account in Kansas.
How was the game
At the beginning of the match, the teams studied each other in what promised to be a full-speed duel. The fast Senegalese attack sought to exploit counterattacks with good throws, while France looked for Kylian Mbappé and his eye for goal to break through the Africans’ blockade.
On two occasions, Real Madrid’s number 10 was unable to control the ball in attack. It would be his little participation in the first half. After 15 minutes, the France began to control possession of the ballbut Senegal limited the spaces and forced the French to work to reach the attack.
Despite French dominance, the first big chance came from Senegal. In one of the good starts of Pape Thiaw’s team, Nicolas Jackson won in the Dayot Upamecano race and finished with goalkeeper Mike Maignan’s first stickwho almost pushed it into the goal with his back.
Senegal marked the midfield set up by Deschamps in an exemplary manner, with emphasis on Pape Gueye and Gana Gueye (they are not from the same family).
Also highlighted in the first half was Australian referee Alireza Faghani, who let the game go and scored very few foulswhich sometimes bothered the players on the field.
At the end of the six-minute stoppage time, Mané found Ismaïla Sarr inside the area, who finished over the crossbar. Senegal was in danger, but ended the first half in a draw.
Second half
At the beginning of the second half, the France wanted to impose favoritism on the pitch. Désiré Doué finished off a bomb from the right side of the experienced Edouard Mendy. Koulibaly blocked a good run from Mbappé on the right side of the field.
Mendy defended on the right side a chance from Michael Olise infiltrating from the left side. France arrived with more danger. Mendy caught another ball, and Mbappé tried to force a penalty on the right side, but Alireza Faghani didn’t want to score anything. Mendy appeared again in a launch for Mbappé in the area..
However, the Frenchman’s talent spoke louder. Mbappé scored his 13th goal in World Cupschasing the record of Miroslav Klose, who has 16. He equaled the number of Lionel Messi and Just Fontaine.
Senegal still had a goal disallowed, but were unable to react against the French. Barcola also increased the score on a counterattack, covering Mendy in a beautiful transitionwith a beautiful pass breaking lines, taking advantage of one of the few spaces given by Senegal.
There was still time for two more goals. Ibrahim Mbaye beat the French marking and sent a bomb that Maignan was unable to save. Deschamps was angry, Mbappé took it in the middle and beat Mendy in a great goal in the left cornerfrom very far away. Real Madrid’s number 10 overtook the Argentine and isolated himself as France’s top scorer in World Cups. There are 15 matches in the competition with 14 goals.
