Kylian Mbappe became the highest scorer in France’s history as his sensational double powered Les Bleus to a 3-1 win over Senegal in their Group I World Cup opener in New Jersey.
After equalling Olivier Giroud’s record of 57 goals with a first-time finish from Michael Olise’s defence-splitting pass in the second half, the Real Madrid forward became the outright leading scorer on 58 with a sensational long-range finish in stoppage time.
Mbappe moves to 14 goals at World Cups, putting him level with Germany legend Gerd Muller in the all-time scoring charts and behind only Ronaldo, who hit 15 for Brazil, and Miroslav Klose, who holds the record with his total of 16 for Germany.
Mbappe’s stunning second goal came only two minutes after Senegal substitute Ibrahim Mbaye, a young player billed as the next Mbappe, had pulled one back following a delicate, chipped finish by Bradley Barcola for France’s second of the game.
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Earlier, Mbappe had been controversially denied a penalty following a challenge by Sadio Mane when referee Alireza Faghani stuck with his on-field decision despite being sent to the monitor by the VAR.
Faghani appeared to point to the spot as he announced his decision but was in fact signalling for a goal kick, deeming Mbappe to have initiated the contact with Mane.
France’s explosive second-half performance came after a dire first-half showing during which they only mustered one shot despite head coach Didier Deschamps naming a front four of Mbappe, Olise, Ousmane Dembele and Desire Doue.
Senegal looked the more dangerous side in that period but came to regret their missed chances, with Ismaila Sarr the main culprit having fired over from six yards out in first-half stoppage time.
France, and Mbappe in particular, made them pay.
The key moments from New Jersey…
- 25: Nicolas Jackson gives France a scare by hitting the post
- 45+6: Sarr fires a big Senegal chance over from six yards out
- 53: Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy makes a save from Olise
- 57: Mendy is called into action again to deny Mbappe
- 61: NO PENALTY! The referee denies Mbappe a spot kick despite being sent to the monitor, deeming the forward to have initiated the contact with Senegal’s Mane
- 66 GOAL! Mbappe buries Olise’s brilliant pass for the opener
- 82: GOAL! Barcola races onto Adrien Rabiot’s pass and finishes coolly
- 90+5: GOAL! Mbaye pulls one back with a fine individual goal
- 90+6: GOAL! Mbappe lashes home a brilliant effort for his second
Analysis: History-maker Mbappe proves his point
Mbappe’s first-half performance appeared to provide ammunition for his critics. Touches went astray. Opportunities passed him by. Moves seemed to break down around him.
But Wayne Rooney, a man who knows a thing or two about the pressures of leading the line at the top level, was quick to defend him at the interval. “I don’t think Mbappe’s the problem,” he said on the BBC. “I know he hasn’t had a great half but as a centre-forward you always get a chance to redeem yourself.”
Mbappe did that and more.
Helped by the service of the excellent Olise, the 27-year-old spearheaded a transformed performance from the two-time winners in the second period, denied by Edouard Mendy, and then the referee, before his breakthrough finally came.
His first goal was brilliantly taken, finished first-time when many others would have taken a touch. His second was almost implausibly good, a ferocious drive from around 30 yards out, struck with the ferocity of a man on a mission to prove a point.
His defensive application was the dominant talking point ahead of the game. He came into the tournament off the back of a season in which millions of Real Madrid fans signed a petition for him to be sold. But this was a reminder of Mbappe’s brilliance.
A player who has top scored at consecutive World Cups now looks a good bet to do so at a third, and become the leading scorer in the competition’s 96-year history in the process. Carry on at this rate and he’ll have done it before the knockouts.
Mbappe: I play to make history
On breaking France’s scoring record, Mbappe said: “I play to make my mark on my country’s history, to ensure my team reaches the final and wins the World Cup. The rest will simply be part of who I am and my career.
On the victory, he added: “It gives us a bit more peace of mind, although you’re never really relaxed at a World Cup.
“We’ve seen it with the other teams – winning is never easy. It wasn’t straightforward today, but we know we’re capable of scoring at any moment.
“We have to stay calm and composed, stick to what we need to do, because everything happens so quickly at a World Cup. Now our focus shifts to the match against Iraq.”
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Source: skysports.com
