Africa-Press – Gambia. With two goals from Mbappé in the match for the second round of Group D against Denmark, France became this Saturday the first selection with a visa in the passport for the round of 16 of the World Cup taking place in Qatar.
The young striker led the world champions to a 2-1 win at the 974 Stadium in Doha and became the competition’s top contender for Best Athlete.
With six points at the top of the group, resulting from two victories, France will face the last round of the regular phase without pressure next Wednesday, the 30th. can increase the nest egg at the top of the ranking.
Game history
The French team was superior in the first half and created several opportunities, but were not successful in breaking through the Danes’ nets. The intensity in the attack exploited the speed of Mbappé and Dembelé on the flanks that sought to trigger Giroud in the face of the opposing goal.
Denmark was armed to contain the artillery of Napoleon Bonaparte’s “grandchildren”. He dropped the two wing defenders to form a line of five and populated the midfield with four players to block France. The result was an advantage for the Danes in possession of the ball, but they suffered pressure from the opponent. The balls in the area were dangerous. France insisted on a dynamic of continued attack and created new offensive plots. In the 30th minute, Mbappé crossed before the bottom line and the ball stopped at Kounde’s feet, who finished firmly. The shot was blocked close to the goal line.
Then, at 33′, Griezmann infiltrated the area and crossed low, requiring a save from Schmeichel with his foot. French pressure resulted in nine consecutive shots, while Denmark only defended.
In a rare counter-attack, the Danes responded in the 35th minute through Cornelius, who paired with Lindstrom in the attack and shot hard outside. The French have shot 12 times to Denmark’s two.
The game gave signs of ending as the sixth draw to zero of the competition. The second part had a different tone, but with the same script. In the 11th minute, Mbappé won a contest and shot hard after riding for long meters. Schmeichel defended without difficulties. Three minutes later, Tchouameni served Griezmann and sent the ball out.
After a lot of insistence, Mbappé opened the scoring in the 15th minute, after receiving the ball on the left and activated Hérnandez who was coming at speed. The winger invaded the area and returned it to the PSG boy, who fled from two opponents, and shot for the goal.
Denmark then responded through Christensen, who anticipated Rabiot and headed in alone for the equaliser. It all started when Erikson took a corner and Lindstrom appeared on the first post to break into the middle of the area.
With the tie, both teams were more offensive in an open game with opportunities for both sides. At 40 minutes, the French smiled, when Mbappé, again, scored the second “decisive” goal.
With the third goal, the PSG striker joins the Ecuadorian Enner Valencia at the top of the scorers of the competition in Qatar and becomes the second highest French scorer in the tournament with seven, behind only Fontaine, with 13.
“Saviour”: French press thanks Mbappe
Yesterday, the French press thanked striker Kyllian Mbappé for the victory that took five minutes from the end of the game with Denmark and qualified the world champions for the round of 16 of the World Cup in Qatar.
At the age of 23, Mbappé was highlighted as “Salvador” in Jornal RMC Sports, adding that the PSG star “made the difference” and was “unstoppable” in the duel. The publication gave the number 10 jersey 8.5, the highest among Blues players. “Thank you Mbappe,” he added.
L’Equipe emphasized that the young player equaled Zinedine Zidane as the seventh highest scorer in the history of Les Bleus with 31 goals for the national team and in fewer matches played: 62, compared to 108 for the former player.
The Journal writes that “Mbappé still hasn’t won two World Cups, but he is already the second highest French scorer in the history of the competition. Now, he is ahead of Zidane, Platine (both with five), in addition to Thierry Henry (6)”. At the head of the “young hurricane” is Just Fontaine, who scored 13 times in the 1958 World Cup.
Le Parisien also highlights the French gem. “World champion at the age of 19, Mbappé is aiming for a double with the French national team shortly before his 24th birthday”, he pointed out.
If France lift the trophy on 18 December, the striker will lift the trophy two days before his birthday.
The journal draws attention to other player stats. Mbappé is the only player to equal Pelé in goals scored at World Cups before turning 24.
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