By Tomiwa Jagunna
France kicked off their FIFA World Cup Group I journey with a convincing 3-1 victory over Senegal at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, with Kylian Mbappé once again taking center stage.
After a competitive opening hour, the French captain finally broke the deadlock in the 66th minute, finishing clinically after being picked out by Michael Olise.
Bradley Barcola added a second in the 82nd minute to put Les Bleus firmly in control before Senegal’s Ibrahim Mbaye reduced the deficit in stoppage time with a strike in the 95th minute.
Mbappé had the final say just moments later, finding the net in the 96th minute to secure the win and become France’s all-time leading goalscorer with 58 international goals.
Senegal showed plenty of ambition throughout the encounter and troubled the French defence on several occasions.
The attacking trio of Sadio Mané, Nicolas Jackson and Ismaila Sarr created opportunities that kept Didier Deschamps’ men alert, particularly during an evenly balanced first half. However, France’s superior quality in the final third eventually proved decisive, with Olise pulling the strings in midfield while Mbappé delivered another match-winning performance on the biggest stage.
Earlier in Group I, Norway produced an emphatic 4-1 victory over Iraq to strengthen their early qualification hopes. Erling Haaland stamped his authority on the tournament with a dominant display, scoring twice in the 20th and 43rd minutes as the Norwegians outclassed their opponent.
His goals helped Norway establish themselves as serious contenders in the group, setting up a fascinating battle with France at the top of the group stage.
