France defeated Senegal 3-1 on Wednesday afternoon behind a Kylian Mbappé brace and an impressive goal by Bradley Barcola. Senegal looked to make the game respectable with a late goal from Ibrahim Mbaye in stoppage time, but Mbappé spoiled that idea with a second goal just a minute later. The goal made him France’s all-time leading goalscorer.
France Starting XI: Mike Maignan, Dayot Upamecano, Jules Kounde, Ousmane Dembele, Aurelien Tchouameni, Kylian Mbappe (c), Michael Olise, Adrien Rabiot, William Saliba, Theo Hernandez, Desire Doue.
Senegal Starting XI: Edouard Mendy, Kalidou Koulibaly, Idrissa Gana Gueye, Lamine Camara, Sadio Mane, Nicolas Jackson, Krepin Diatta, Ismaila Sarr, Moussa Niakhate, El Hadji Malick Diouf, Pape Gueye.
Senegal struggled to find their footing throughout the match. Nicolas Jackson hit the post just a few minutes before the hydration break, but aside from that, the Senegalese attack was dry.
After a quiet first half, the match had all the hallmarks of an oncoming draw. It happens in football when two teams fail to find their footing, and chances run dry or incomplete. But the former World Cup champion Mbappé had other plans and put Edouard Mendy to work in the 66th minute. The goal wasn’t the most impressive sequence, but it was the celebration that stole the show. Earlier last week, with James Corden, Mbappé was surprised with a flute. Minutes later, a flute celebration was promised. Fast forward to today, the French forward delivered on his word.
Bradley Barcola quickly impressed, helping his side improve its lead. After coming on in the 80th minute, the Paris Saint-Germain star scored two minutes later after beating his defender and chipping the keeper in the process.
Senegal wasn’t done yet. They left it late, but the Lions of Teranga would finally open up their 2026 World Cup goal account through their youngster Ibrahim Mbaye. The 18-year-old, who also plays for PSG, brought the game within a goal after beating a diving Mike Maignan in goal.
If a late goal four minutes into stoppage time wasn’t enough, Mbappé stamping out a brace a minute later erupted the stadium. The Real Madrid talisman fired an absolute rocket from around 25 yards out to finish the game 3-1. Didier Deschamps’ men left it late, but they walked away with a win and the top spot in Group I.
“Well, it’s a relief,” said Deschamps about France eeking out a win late in the match. “There was some apprehension. It’s always great to start with a win. It’s not decisive, but it’s always good to win. It’s magical when you share such great emotions through football. This is not the end.”
Kylian Mbappé echoed his skipper’s sentiments post-match as well. “It’s good to start out with a win. We’ve seen some teams have a rough go after they started out with a win.”
Even after scoring three goals, Deschamps was unsatisfied. His players felt the same way. But most importantly, they cared nothing about the criticism or the unnecessary pressure that teams tend to feel when they appear to underperform.
“If I think about people who criticize me all the time, I wouldn’t have relief,” laughed Kylian after the match. “Is this a relief? No, this is the first match of the group stage period. Things can go very fast in a World Cup, and we’re playing Iraq very soon.”
The current AFCON champions, Senegal, have more to play for and won’t be satisfied with today’s performance. Sadio Mané wasn’t at his best, and Nicolas Jackson found chances, as he often does, but was unable to finish.
“There are some things that failed to be perfectly honest,” said Senegal’s Pape Thiaw. The manager continued to address the numerous missed chances. “We had a few misses, but we didn’t finish our chances with goals, and we were punished on a few counterattacks.”
“But we have two matches to go. Had we been more efficient, we could’ve had at least two goals.”
Group I continues next week when both sides continue play on June 22. Senegal will take on Norway, and France will face Iraq.
-Jon Jones
Photo: Eyoel Fassil