France v Senegal: Mbappe Makes History With Record-Breaking Double in Thrilling Group I Opener

• Kylian Mbappe scored twice to become France’s all-time leading scorer with 58 goals, surpassing Olivier Giroud, as Les Bleus beat Senegal 3-1 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford.
• Mbappe moved to 14 career World Cup goals, level with Gerd Muller and third on the all-time list behind Miroslav Klose (16) and Ronaldo (15), having overtaken Messi, Pele and Just Fontaine in a single match.
• Senegal dominated the first half but France outshot them 10-1 after the break, with Bradley Barcola also scoring before Ibrahim Mbaye’s consolation.

Mbappe Caps Stunning Second Half With 30-Yard Thunderbolt

Kylian Mbappe wrote another chapter in World Cup history as France overcame a sluggish first half to beat Senegal 3-1 in their Group I opener in front of 80,545 fans at MetLife Stadium. The Real Madrid forward scored twice to become his country’s all-time leading scorer and climb to third on the World Cup career charts, capping the performance with a 30-yard thunderbolt deep into stoppage time that will stand as a contender for goal of the tournament.

Senegal were the better side in a scoreless first half that would have left France coach Didier Deschamps deeply concerned. Mbappe had just 14 touches before the break, the fewest of any player on the pitch, and Les Bleus managed a single shot to Senegal’s five. Nicolas Jackson came agonizingly close to giving the Lions of Teranga the lead in the 25th minute when his shot beat Mike Maignan but struck the post, rebounded off the heel of the goalkeeper and bounced into touch. Jackson then had a goal ruled out for offside, and Ismaila Sarr sent a good chance over as Pape Thiaw’s side threatened to inflict on France the kind of opening-day defeat they suffered to Senegal back in 2002.

The second half was a different match entirely. Desire Doue’s warning shot heralded the French charge, and Michael Olise and Mbappe both forced excellent saves from Edouard Mendy as Les Bleus found the urgency that had been absent before the break. The tactical switch proved decisive, with Deschamps changing the positions of Ousmane Dembele and Olise to unlock the Senegalese defense.

The breakthrough arrived in the 66th minute. Olise threaded a clever pass into Mbappe’s path, and the captain made no mistake, firing past Mendy to equal Giroud’s record of 57 goals for France. It was the kind of clinical finish that has defined Mbappe’s career on the biggest stages, and it opened the floodgates.

Barcola, introduced from the bench, added a second in the 82nd minute by dinking the ball over Mendy to give France breathing room. Mbaye pulled one back for Senegal in the fifth minute of stoppage time with an impressive consolation, but Mbappe saved the best for last. In the sixth minute of added time, the 27-year-old picked up the ball, dribbled forward and unleashed an unstoppable shot from 30 yards that flew into the top corner. The stadium erupted. It was his 58th goal for France, breaking Giroud’s record outright, and his 14th at a World Cup, drawing him level with West Germany legend Muller and ahead of Messi, Pele and Fontaine.

“I’m very happy to be able to write a bit more the history of my country. It’s always what I have wanted to do,” Mbappe told French media. “But we know why we are here. I will have time to think about this kind of things [the records] later when I stop playing. I’m here to help the team, to continue with my teammates to write another page in the history of the French national team. We know there is still a long way but we are ready.”

Mbappe was characteristically defiant when asked about his critics. “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,” he said. “There is no revenge [against critics]. If I started playing for all the people who criticise me and to shut them up, I would have to play until I’m 80.”

Mbappe spoke separately to M6 about the importance of staying composed. “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,” he said.

Deschamps, who reached his 20th World Cup match as head coach to draw level with Bora Milutinovic, Oscar Tabarez and Mario Zagallo, was relieved by the turnaround. “It’s a bit of a relief. We were a little apprehensive at the start. Changing Ousmane’s [Dembele] and Michael’s [Olise] positions made a big difference. It’s always important to win your opening match. That’s the magic of football when you get to share those emotions. It’s only the first game, but we’re going to enjoy it,” the France coach told M6.

Mendy reflected on a difficult evening for Senegal despite their encouraging first-half display. “We weren’t able to execute our game plan. We knew we had to raise our level in the second half and be more clinical going forward. We only managed to do that in spells, whereas against teams like this you have to be meticulous and leave nothing to chance because you’re up against pure talent. The first game is behind us now, we have to learn from it and turn our attention to Norway,” the Senegal goalkeeper told beIN Sports.

Olise was named Player of the Match for his role in transforming the contest after the break, with his clever pass unlocking Mbappe for the opening goal. With fans in Senegal denied visas by the US government, support for the Lions of Teranga was limited to a few sections in MetLife Stadium’s southwest corner, though the 80,545 crowd made for a memorable atmosphere. France, chasing a third straight World Cup final, face Iraq on Monday in Philadelphia before closing Group I against Norway in Foxborough. Senegal meet Norway at MetLife Stadium on Monday before finishing against Iraq in Toronto.

WRITTEN BY

Jarrod

Jarrod Partridge is the Founder of Futbol Chronicle and an accredited journalist with over 30 years of experience following international football. A member of the AIPS International Sports Press Association, Jarrod has covered matches at stadiums around the world, bringing first-hand insight to every match report, player profile, and tactical analysis he writes.

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