Kylian Mbappe scores twice as France turn out to be the primary staff to qualify for the Spherical of 16 on the World Cup.
Kylian Mbappe scored twice as France grew to become the primary staff to ebook their spot within the knockout phases of the World Cup as they beat Denmark 2-1 on Saturday.
Mbappe put the French forward within the 61st minute, however the lead was cancelled out by Andreas Christensen’s equaliser simply seven minutes later.
Mbappe scored the winner within the 86th minute, changing on a cross from Antoine Griezmann and bundling the ball into the again of the web together with his thigh.
With this end result, world champions France have six factors on the prime of Group D and are the primary staff to ensure their place within the Spherical of 16.
Having scored 4 throughout France’s victorious 2018 marketing campaign and one towards Australia, Mbappe now has seven objectives in 9 World Cup appearances.
Didier Deschamps now has the luxurious of main his staff into their remaining group recreation towards Tunisia, figuring out a draw would assure them a prime spot, and even a defeat could not forestall them from ending first.
Having come roaring again to batter Australia 4-1 of their opening match in Qatar, France have been extra wasteful in entrance of aim on this event however a minimum of they didn't come unstuck towards opponents who've induced them issues earlier than.
They have been reigning champions when a defeat to the Danes knocked them out of the 2002 World Cup, whereas the edges performed out their solely goalless attract 2018.
Extra just lately, Kasper Hjulmand’s facet beat France at dwelling and away on this 12 months’s UEFA Nations League, although Deschamps seems to have realized his classes from these two encounters.
Deschamps modified three of his again 4, with Theo Hernandez at left-back rather than his injured elder brother Lucas, and Raphael Varane coming in for his first recreation in over a month.
However the French assault was untouched by the Australia recreation.
If Olivier Giroud took the headlines then, right here Ousmane Dembele was electrical at instances on the appropriate, Griezmann excelled in a complicated midfield position, and Mbappe made the distinction.
France’s tempo, energy and passing have been all too sharp for the Euro 2020 semi-finalists who have been fortunate to go in degree at half-time.
There have been some French appeals for a purple card within the nineteenth minute when Mbappe burst onto a stupendous threaded-through ball by Griezmann solely to be hauled down by Christensen, however the Danish defender escaped with a yellow.
The holders’ greatest probabilities within the first half got here from headers by Varane and Adrien Rabiot, however when Mbappe turned away from Joachim Andersen simply earlier than the hour mark and accelerated away, it was an indication that a aim was coming.
His shot was turned behind by Kasper Schmeichel, and Griezmann then wasted a fantastic likelihood, however Mbappe scored the opener shortly after.
The Paris Saint-Germain famous person linked up brilliantly with Hernandez on the left and met his teammate’s cutback with a shot that beat Schmeichel due to a deflection off Christensen.
Denmark had supplied little however, immediately, they have been degree halfway by way of the second half as Andersen nodded down a nook and his fellow defender Christensen headed dwelling.
Hugo Lloris was then pressured right into a key save to disclaim a shot for Jesper Lindstrom, and Martin Braithwaite grazed a put up as Denmark threatened to show the sport fully on its head.
That may have been extraordinarily harsh on France, even when they may solely actually have themselves in charge for not making extra of their probabilities.
However Mbappe was to not be denied as he stole in entrance of Rasmus Kristensen on the again put up with 4 minutes left to satisfy Griezmann’s cross together with his thigh for his thirty first worldwide aim.
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