EAST RUTHERFORD — Overcoming a sluggish start, France ensured it would not be the latest European power to disappoint in its World Cup opener, defeating Senegal 3-1 in Group I play on Tuesday afternoon at New York New Jersey (MetLife) Stadium.
Kylian Mbappe, Les Bleus’ talisman, scored his 13th and 14th career World Cup goals in the second half to provide a sliver of revenge for 2002, when an underdog Senegal team defeated the then-defending-champion French in the opening match of the tournament.
Bradley Barcola’s first-ever World Cup goal sealed the deal eight minutes from time to follow Mbappe’s opener in the 66th minute for a French side keen on proving it is still a worthy favorite for the title.
Ibrahim Mbaye, who plays in the French capital for Paris Saint-Germain, provided a consolation prize for Senegal with a well-worked goal in the fourth minute of second-half stoppage time, but it was quickly wiped away by Mbappe’s second of the day two minutes later — a long-range strike from 25 yards out that curled just inside the left post.
Mbappe is now two goals off the all-time World Cup goals record, which is held by Germany’s Miroslav Klose.
Consider it a harsh result for a Senegal team that largely took it to the 2018 champions and 2022 runners-up. The African powers exhibited some lovely, aggressive soccer throughout the day, but lacked a finishing touch.
Nicolas Jackson nearly put Senegal up in the 25th minute when his chance on the counter-attack rang off the left post, off the back of French keeper Mike Maignan, but stayed out.
The chance was created by some brilliant defending by Senegal’s left back, El Hadj Malick Diouf, who won the ball on a sliding tackle on Mbappe, then Jackson through with a long, low pass down the wing.
Ismaila Sarr should have put them in front with the final kick of the first half. A bouncing cross from Sadio Mane on the left surprisingly fell to his right foot in the middle of the box, but he skied his chance well over the crossbar.
Despite the early lack of finishing, Senegal’s statement of intent was clear: it would simply not lie down at the feet of the French powerhouse. The Lions of Teranga played vertically, calling on the speed they possess down the wings, whether it was Sarr of Crystal Palace down the right or the former Liverpool legend Mane on the left.
France began to show its gumption in the second half and dominated the majority of chances in the final 45 minutes. Desire Doue got on the end of a Dayot Upamecano long ball, then fired it wide from roughly 25 yards out — France’s second shot attempt of the afternoon.
A turnover in Senegal territory sprang Les Bleus ahead in the 53rd minute. Michael Olise worked his way into the box, but his left-footed effort was saved well by Edouard Mendy.
Four minutes later, another turnover sparked by the loose play of Jackson played Mbappe through, but Mendy was up to the task again with a left-footed save at close range.
France had a shout for a penalty in the 57th minute when a sliding challenge from Mane appeared to catch Mbappe on the right side of the box. Initially ruled a corner, head official Alireza Faghani was ordered to the VAR screen at midfield, only to award Senegal a goal kick.
In the 64th minute, Mbappe should have completed a blinding French counter when he was played in behind by Olise, but the star Real Madrid man simply missed his first touch, and it rolled harmlessly to Mendy.
He got his goal two minutes later when Olise played him in perfectly yet again. From the right wing, the Bayern Munich man’s through ball found Mbappe, who made his run from just above the penalty spot, to the right of the box. With his first touch, he fired a low shot past Mendy.
Senegal had an equalizer wiped away two minutes after France’s breakthrough, when Jackson was well offside on a long ball that played him in on Maignan.
Barcola put the game to bed in the 82nd minute when he chipped a sliding Mendy after being played in by a lovely ball from Adrien Rabiot.
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