FRANCE 3 | 0 IRAQ
Philadelphia, June 23: Kylian Mbappe delivered another masterclass on the biggest stage as France overcame a lengthy weather interruption to defeat Iraq 3-0 and secure their place in the knockout stage of the FIFA World Cup on Monday.
The French superstar scored twice and Ousmane Dembele added another as Les Bleus maintained their unbeaten start to the tournament despite a dramatic two-hour rain delay at Lincoln Financial Field. The victory ensured France’s progression to the last 32 and further strengthened their credentials as one of the favourites to lift the trophy.
Playing his 100th international match for France, Mbappe once again demonstrated why he remains one of world football’s most feared forwards. The 27-year-old struck once in each half to take his tally to three goals in the tournament and move level with German legend Miroslav Klose on 16 career World Cup goals. He also surpassed Brazilian great Ronaldo on the all-time scoring charts, with only Argentina captain Lionel Messi now ahead of him. France started brightly and needed just 14 minutes to break the deadlock. Mbappe collected the ball near the edge of the penalty area and unleashed a precise left-footed effort that beat Iraqi goalkeeper Ahmed Basil and nestled into the net. The strike gave France a deserved lead after a dominant opening spell in which they controlled possession and repeatedly stretched the Iraqi defence.
However, what appeared to be a routine evening for the French quickly turned into a test of patience as severe weather descended on Philadelphia.
Heavy rain and an approaching thunderstorm forced officials to suspend play at halftime, sending players and supporters scrambling for cover.
The delay lasted for more than two hours as torrential rain soaked the pitch and stadium staff worked tirelessly to remove standing water from the surface.
Fans sought shelter in concourses and under covered sections of the stadium while repeated announcements warned spectators about the incoming storm.
When play finally resumed, France wasted little time reasserting their superiority.
Mbappe doubled the lead in the 54th minute after capitalising on a costly mistake by the Iraqi defence. Defender Zaid Tahseen played a poor back-pass towards his goalkeeper, allowing Dembele to pounce on the loose ball. The Paris Saint-Germain winger calmly squared the ball to Mbappe, who made no mistake from close range, tapping home his second goal of the night.
The goal effectively ended any hopes of an Iraqi comeback and allowed France to dictate proceedings for the remainder of the contest.
Dembele then put the result beyond doubt with a well-taken goal of his own, capping another impressive display by the reigning Ballon d’Or winner.
His combination play with Mbappe and Desire Doue caused constant problems for the Iraqi backline and highlighted the attacking depth available to France.
Mbappe nearly completed a memorable hat-trick late in the match when he raced through on goal, only to miss the target before being substituted in the closing stages to a standing ovation from the travelling French supporters.
While France celebrated qualification for the knockout rounds, Iraq endured a frustrating evening both on and off the pitch.
Their task became even more difficult when star striker Aymen Hussein was forced off with an apparent injury in the 26th minute. Hussein, who scored in Iraq’s opening match against Norway, was replaced by Ali Al-Hamadi.
Without their leading scorer, Iraq struggled to create meaningful opportunities against a disciplined French defence.
The Asian side showed determination and resilience but lacked the quality required to trouble one of the tournament’s strongest teams. (AP)
