Mbappé playing against Australia at the 2022 FIFA World Cup (Photo Tasnim News Agency)
Kylian Mbappe starred in his 100th cap for France with a brace at the FIFA World Cup. The former champions cruised into the knockout stages from Group I with a clinical 3-0 win over Iraq in a match that was delayed by two hours by a severe storm.
Mbappe opened the scoring in the 14th minute and added another nine minutes into the second half, with last year’s Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele getting the other goal for the tournament favourites in Philadelphia.
Mbappe moved to 16 World Cup goals in his career, two behind Lionel Messi who set a new record of 18 goals by netting twice for Argentina against Austria earlier in the day.
France made three changes from their opening game, with Bradley Barcola replacing Desire Doue on the left wing, Manu Kone stepping in for Aurelien Tchouameni in midfield, and Lucas Digne preferred to Theo Hernandez at left-back.
Mbappe opened the scoring before the quarter-hour mark when he controlled a pass with his right foot and sent in a shot from 20 metres which was too powerful for Iraq goalkeeper Ahmed Basil.
Graham Arnold’s side were then dealt a blow as captain and striker Aymen Hussein had to come off with just 26 minutes gone.
The weather delay made for a surreal atmosphere as the storm passed overhead, leaving supporters drenched, and forced the players to sit it out in the dressing room.
When play resumed, Iraq caved in, with a calamitous passage of play gifting Mbappe and France their second goal on 54 minutes.
A goal-kick was taken by defender Zaid Tahseen who tried to give it goalkeeper Basil, but he hit it too hard and wide, and Dembele was able to set up Mbappe for a simple finish.
Michael Olise then hit the bar with a delicate chip before the Bayern Munich man set up Dembele to fire in on 66 minutes for 3-0.
Next up for Mbappe and France is a meeting with Erling Haaland’s Norway in Boston on Friday, but the 2022 beaten finalists are already certain of reaching the last 32 after notching two wins from two games in Group I.
Iraq, meanwhile, are staring at the prospect of early elimination after this defeat followed a 4-1 loss to Norway in their opening game — they have now lost five games out of five across two World Cups, 40 years apart.
