EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — In the initial stages of the France-Senegal match on Tuesday afternoon, Kylian Mbappé struggled with his performance. His dribbling lacked precision, and he often found himself misaligned with the game, unable to reach passes in time. His frustration was evident as the game progressed.
During the 64th minute, France’s Michael Olise pushed the team forward and delivered a pass through the defense, aiming for Mbappé as he sprinted towards the goal. Although Mbappé attempted to reach and control the ball, he missed the opportunity. His expression of near success spoke volumes as the team managed only one off-target shot in the first half.
Minutes later, Olise, once again in control within Senegal’s territory, spotted Mbappé breaking towards the right side of the box. Olise curved a pass past four Senegalese defenders, leading to Mbappé’s swift and precise strike. In an instant, Mbappé became the hero, putting France ahead 1-0.
Mbappé later added to France’s score, securing a 3-1 victory. This brought his international goal tally to 58, surpassing Olivier Giroud and establishing him as France’s top goalscorer. Mbappé holds 14 World Cup goals, placing him third overall, behind Brazil’s Ronaldo with 15 and Germany’s Miroslav Klose with 16.
French coach Didier Deschamps acknowledged that despite criticisms, Mbappé’s iconic status allows him to shift the game’s momentum and secure victory. France, entering the tournament as 2018 World Cup champions and ranked second by FIFA, was widely anticipated for another triumph. However, Senegal’s assertive style initially dominated, with France accumulating only limited offensive chances.
Deschamps noted Mbappé’s lack of precision early in the game didn’t stem from mental challenges, as Mbappé is familiar with World Cup pressures and confident in his abilities. Despite a mere 14 touches in the first half, Mbappé was poised for a change.
In the second half, France’s urgency increased, resulting in a 10-1 shot advantage over Senegal. A significant contributor was Olise, playing for Bayern Munich, who orchestrated multiple plays leading to goals. Olise’s series of passes showcased potential scoring opportunities for Mbappé.
In the 57th minute, following a turnover, Olise found Mbappé with a pass into the box. Mbappé’s effort resulted in a close save by Senegal’s goalkeeper, Édouard Mendy. Though frustrated, Mbappé persisted, netting the decisive goal in the 66th minute.
With added time following Senegal’s score, Mbappé seized another opportunity, driving a shot from 30 yards out into the net’s top corner. His achievement sparked jubilation among teammates, affirming his impact.
“I hope he will continue like this for the tournament,” remarked France’s Adrien Rabiot.
Mbappé aims to become the World Cup’s leading goalscorer, potentially achieving this in the forthcoming match against Iraq. He needs two more goals to tie Klose and three to surpass him. Deschamps humorously welcomes similar performances if they lead to goals.
Post-game, Mbappé briefly appeared for press interaction before departing, leaving behind anticipation for further analyses of his contributions as the tournament advances. France aspires to return for the finals on the same field.
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