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 e-book their spot within the knockout phases of the World Cup as they beat Denmark 2-1 on Saturday.
Mbappe put the French forward after an hour, however the lead was cancelled out by Andreas Christensen’s equaliser simply seven minutes later.
Mbappe completed the job 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 consequence, 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 in opposition to Australia, Mbappe now has seven targets in 9 World Cup appearances.
Didier Deschamps now has the luxurious of main his staff into their closing group sport in opposition to Tunisia figuring out a draw would assure them prime spot, and even a defeat could not forestall them ending first.
Having come roaring again to batter Australia 4-1 of their opening match in Qatar, France had been extra wasteful in entrance of purpose on this event however no less than they didn’t come unstuck in opposition to opponents who’ve prompted them issues earlier than.
They had 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 not too long ago, Kasper Hjulmand’s facet beat France 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 instead of his injured elder brother Lucas and Raphael Varane coming in for his first sport in over a month.
However the French assault was untouched from the Australia sport.
If Olivier Giroud took the headlines then, right here Ousmane Dembele was electrical at instances on the suitable, Griezmann excelled in a complicated midfield function, and Mbappe made the distinction.
France’s tempo, energy and passing had been all too sharp for the Euro 2020 semi-finalists who had 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 fantastic threaded by means of 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} purpose was coming.
His shot was turned behind by Kasper Schmeichel, and Griezmann then wasted an important likelihood shortly after, however within the 61st minute Mbappe did rating.
The Paris Saint-Germain celebrity 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 provided little however instantly they had been degree halfway by means 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 Jesper Lindstrom and Martin Braithwaite grazed a put up as Denmark threatened to show the sport utterly on its head.
That might have been extraordinarily harsh on France, even when they may solely actually have themselves guilty 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 fulfill Griezmann’s cross together with his thigh for his thirty first worldwide purpose.
