Now the record goalscorer for Les Bleus
©IMAGO
Kylian Mbappé and Bayern professional Michael Olise led title contenders France to their opening victory at the World Cup. Mbappé took the lead in the 3-1 (0-0) win against Senegal in the 66th minute, with Olise doing the outstanding preparatory work. Substitute Bradley Barcola (82′) increased the score. Senegal’s Ibrahim Mbaye briefly made things exciting (90+5) before Mbappé struck again with his 14th World Cup goal (90+6).
The 1998 and 2018 world champion initially seemed uninspired, but earned the success thanks to a clear increase in performance after the break. The French are among the big favorites for the title at the tournament in the USA, Canada and Mexico. The first three points should give them further momentum on the way to the third star they hope for.
Many of the 80,545 spectators in East Rutherford were prepared for an offensive spectacle from the French – but that only happened in the second half. When Mbappé was shown on the video screens shortly before the two teams entered the stadium, there was a huge cheer. In the first half, however, the Équipe Tricolore attack, which was highly praised and consisted entirely of top players, remained surprisingly harmless.
Not once did the French take a dangerous shot at Edouard Mendy’s goal before the break. Instead, the Senegalese put themselves in trouble when captain Kalidou Koulibaly almost cleared a cross into his own goal (44′). Otherwise, neither Mbappé nor Ousmane Dembélé nor Olise from FC Bayern Munich were initially able to make a big impact.
And Senegal? Performed as confidently as coach Pape Thiaw had wanted and announced. Nicolas Jackson, who was loaned to Bayern from Chelsea last season, shook off his former Munich colleague Dayot Upamecano and hammered the ball onto the post (25th).
The West Africans also appeared more determined in and around the opponent’s penalty area. The lead would have been deserved if Ismaila Sarr had taken advantage of his huge chance in stoppage time in the first half.
After the break the picture changed: Now the French were up to operating temperature in the heat of New Jersey. Désiré Doué shot just past the left (47th). Olise (53′) and Mbappé (57′) from promising positions both failed because of Mendy. France’s successful coach Didier Deschamps must have asked himself why not like that right away on the bench.
However, the 57-year-old appeared even more perplexed a moment later. Mbappé went down in the opponent’s box after a tackle from Senegal star Sadio Mané, but didn’t get a penalty. Not even after the Iranian referee Alireza Faghani was sent to the screen by the video assistant to check. A tough decision by the referee.
But Les Bleus stuck with it. And they rewarded themselves. Olise fed Mbappé with a wonderful through ball – and it hit low past Mendy to make it 1-0. Mbappé cheered by holding an imaginary flute to his mouth. He had already promised this to the British comedian James Corden before the game. The Real Madrid star striker said on his show that he had played the flute for a year or two as an early musical education.
Jackson almost responded with a direct equalizer, but was ruled offside (68′). In the final phase Barcola increased the score to 2-0. After Senegal tied the score in stoppage time, victory was only briefly in danger – instead, Mbappé made the final decision with a long-range shot. With 58 goals, he is now France’s record goalscorer.