France made a successful start to their World Cup campaign, defeating Senegal 3-1 on Tuesday night at MetLife Stadium in New York/New Jersey. Long troubled by a compact Senegalese team, aggressive in duels and dangerous on the counter-attack, Les Bleus waited until the second half to make the difference.
The match opened up after a difficult first half, ending in a deserved 0-0 draw. The French struggled to establish their game, find pace in the final third, and create scoring opportunities for their attacking players. Senegal, on the other hand, posed real problems with their organization and quick counter-attacks, particularly through Ismaïla Sarr, Nicolas Jackson, and Sadio Mané.
A tight first half, a frustrated French team
In the first half, the French had possession in bursts, without managing to convert it into clear dominance. Olise tried to create movement down the right flank. Doué looked to make runs. Dembélé, positioned centrally in support of Mbappé, struggled to make an impact. His position often kept him away from areas where he could make a difference with the ball at his feet, and Les Bleus lacked link-up play between midfield and attack.
Senegal looked dangerous on several occasions. The Lions of Teranga effectively closed down the center, forcing France to play far from their goal and exploiting any gaps as soon as they won possession. At halftime, the 0-0 scoreline reflected a tight first half, with Les Bleus still finding their rhythm.
The turning point: Mbappé's penalty denied
The game turned around after the restart. Les Bleus came back with more intensity, a more direct style of play and more movement around Mbappé.
In the 58th minute, Kylian Mbappé broke free into the Senegalese penalty area before being brought down by a challenge from Sadio Mané. France appealed for a penalty. The play was reviewed, but the referee did not award a penalty. The decision caused confusion among the French, but the score remained 0-0. This incident did not deter Mbappé. A few minutes later, the French captain responded with an open goal.
66th minute: Mbappé opens the scoring and joins Giroud
In the 66th minute, Michael Olise broke the deadlock. The French player found Kylian Mbappé in an ideal position. The French captain, left too unmarked, slotted the ball past Édouard Mendy into the bottom right corner. France 1, Senegal 0.
This goal has historic significance. By scoring his 57th goal for the French national team, Mbappé joins Olivier Giroud at the top of the all-time leading scorers list for Les Bleus. He also liberates a French team that had been struggling against the Senegalese defense until then. From this opening goal onward, the French find more space. Senegal has to push forward more, and Les Bleus can attack with greater depth.
Dembélé comes off, Barcola comes on and scores immediately
Didier Deschamps then changed his attacking strategy. Ousmane Dembélé came off, replaced by Bradley Barcola. The choice immediately proved decisive.
Barely on the pitch, the PSG striker was played through by Adrien Rabiot. The French midfielder's pass broke the Senegalese line and sent Barcola one-on-one with Édouard Mendy. The French winger controlled his run perfectly before chipping the ball over the goalkeeper. 82nd minute: 2-0. Barcola scored almost immediately after coming on. His goal rewarded Deschamps' tactical adjustments and gave Les Bleus some breathing room in a match that was still wide open.
90+5: Ibrahim Mbaye revives Senegal
Senegal refused to give up. In stoppage time, the Lions of Teranga pulled a goal back through Ibrahim Mbaye, the young PSG player. In the 95th minute, Senegal capitalized on a French turnover. Mbaye received the ball on the right wing, drew a foul from Theo Hernandez, and then created a shooting angle. His powerful effort surprised Mike Maignan at the near post. The French goalkeeper got a touch, but not enough to prevent it from going in. This goal briefly revived the match and rewarded Senegal's perseverance, especially after a game in which the Lions had caused Les Bleus problems for much of the match.
90+6: Mbappé responds from long range and becomes the sole top scorer for Les Bleus
The French response was immediate. One minute after Senegal's goal, Kylian Mbappé sealed the victory with a long-range strike. In the 90th minute, receiving the ball about 6 meters from goal, the French captain positioned himself to shoot and unleashed a powerful right-footed shot. The ball sailed beyond the reach of Édouard Mendy.
With his second goal of the match, Mbappé scored his 58th goal for the French national team. He surpassed Olivier Giroud and became the sole all-time leading scorer for Les Bleus. A record-breaking evening in an opening match.
A very encouraging start for Les Bleus
The opening match was a success: a 3-1 victory, three points, a captain who is the all-time leading scorer, a decisive substitute, and a convincing second half. A very encouraging start for the French team in this World Cup.
