Mbappé Rewrites Frances…

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — In their FIFA World Cup opener on Tuesday, France secured a 3-1 victory against Senegal, propelled by a superb second-half performance featuring three goals from Kylian Mbappé (including a stunning long-range shot) and Bradley Barcola.

Although the score didn’t reflect a comeback since the score was level at halftime, the match felt like one due to France’s initial struggles.

In the first half, France struggled to find rhythm, with their star-studded attack appearing disjointed. Senegal created the better opportunities, with efforts from Nicolas Jackson and Ismaïla Sarr, limiting France to just two off-target shots, with an expected goals (xG) of only 0.06 at halftime. The situation improved after halftime when France’s manager, Didier Deschamps, adjusted his formation, moving Michael Olise to a more central position and pushing Ousmane Dembélé to the flank.

France felt they deserved a penalty when Sadio Mané fouled Mbappé, but referee Alireza Faghani chose not to award it, even after VAR review. However, it was Olise who broke the deadlock in the second half, providing a pinpoint pass to Mbappé, who struck past Édouard Mendy.

Barcola then extended the lead with a clever lob set up by Adrien Rabiot. Late into injury time, substitute Ibrahim Mbaye scored for Senegal, but Mbappé sealed the victory with a powerful strike from distance, finalizing the match at 3-1. — Gabriele Marcotti

Mbappé Makes French and World Cup History

Kylian Mbappé’s historic evening included reaching 58 goals in 99 appearances for France and surpassing records for both all-time top scorer for France and top scorer in World Cup history for the nation, with 14 goals in 15 matches. At just 27, he pushed his career and the record books to new heights with two goals against Senegal.

His performance eclipsed the previous records held by Olivier Giroud and Just Fontaine, and he is now only two goals away from breaking Miroslav Klose’s all-time World Cup scoring record—potentially achievable in the upcoming match against Iraq.

After a quiet first half where he barely touched the ball, Mbappé was electrifying in the second half, despite missing a clear opportunity. His strikes left Mendy helpless—one was a first-time shot and the other a long-range effort. He could also have earned a penalty during the match.

The emotional moment shared between Mbappé and Deschamps following his second goal was significant; the coach is set to depart after the tournament, and Mbappé owes much of his success to him. Deschamps gave him his debut and instilled confidence, leading to a World Cup triumph and another final. More glory could lie ahead. — Julien Laurens

Referee Decisions and VAR Reactions

During an early incident, when Mbappé evaded Mané’s challenge and fell in the penalty area, it seemed a clear penalty. However, referee Alireza Faghani decided on a goal kick instead. VAR Shaun Evans intervened, prompting Faghani to review the footage, leading French fans to hope for a reversed decision. Unfortunately for them, he upheld his initial call.

While the decision sparked debate, it ultimately did not impact the outcome of the match. It’s refreshing to see referees retain their authority and make decisions independently, rather than solely relying on VAR. — Marcotti

Deschamps Adjusts Tactics Effectively

Deschamps is known for his conservative approach and typically sticks to his guns. However, he has made impactful adjustments in previous World Cups, like shifting from his favored 4-4-2 to a 4-3-3 when facing Australia in 2018.

This time, after initially deploying Olise on the right wing, Deschamps reverted him to a central role in the second half, a move that proved transformative.

Olise’s central position significantly changed the dynamics of the French attack, transforming the lethargic front four into a potent offensive unit, brimming with pace and creativity. The change allowed for better combinations, turning the match in France’s favor.

While Deschamps initially misjudged the setup, he made necessary adjustments post-halftime. Going forward, he might aim to start with a more effective strategy right from the kickoff. — Laurens

Senegal Missed Opportunities

Football is often about missed chances, and Senegal’s coach Pape Thiaw may reflect on what could have been. Had Jackson’s shot not resulted in a fumble by Mike Maignan or Dayot Upamecano not intervened, and if Sarr had scored at the end of the first half, the match might have unfolded differently.

It raises questions about why Senegal couldn’t capitalize on their dominant first half, which limited France’s attacks and generated several excellent chances.

Much of this can be attributed to individual brilliance from Mbappé and Olise, who excelled in the middle of the pitch. Once their attacking force settled in, it became a matter of choosing whom to mark, as each player proved dangerous.

However, Senegal’s attack waned, with Pape Gueye fading, Mané retreating, and both Jackson and Sarr losing their edge. Interestingly, Mbaye’s late goal was their only shot on target during the second half.

The silver lining for Senegal is that their strong first-half performance showcased their potential. If they maintain that level of play, they can advance far into the tournament. — Marcotti