Kylian Mbappe scored twice to keep pace with Lionel Messi after storms delayed France's 3-0 World Cup win over Iraq by over two hours. The Real Madrid superstar netted either side of an extended half-time to move to four goals for the tournament and 16 World Cup strikes in all, two behind Messi.
Match Delayed by Extreme Weather
The France game finished almost four hours after it had kicked off due to extreme weather in Philadelphia. The heavens opened eight minutes before half-time, sending fans scrambling for cover. The first half was completed, but the restart was delayed due to lightning strikes in the area. It took two and a quarter hours for the second half to get underway, with the vast majority of spectators waiting patiently.
Given the US broadcasters had so long to show plenty of adverts, even the much-maligned hydration break was scrapped for the second half with plenty of moisture still on the pitch. The Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia resembled Edgbaston or Headingley as ground staff worked tirelessly to get the excess water off the playing surface so the match could restart.
Mbappe's Brilliance and Iraq's Error
Mbappe opened the scoring in stunning fashion after only 14 minutes. He received the ball on the edge of the area from Michael Olise and thumped a rocket past goalkeeper Ahmed Basil into the top corner. Basil got his outstretched right hand to it but was powerless to stop the thunderous strike hitting the back of the net.
The keeper was then involved in an embarrassing mix-up which gifted Mbappe his second. Defender Zaid Tahseen played a short goal kick to Basil who miscontrolled. The ball fell to the feet of Ousmane Dembele who squared it to Mbappe, who had the simple task of rolling the ball into an empty net. It was reminiscent of a similar error in Iraq's first game against Norway which allowed Erling Haaland to profit.
Olise and Dembele Contribute
Olise thought he had made it 3-0 shortly afterwards after being fed by Mbappe, but his audacious curling effort cannoned off the crossbar. Adrien Rabiot then somehow headed wide after Basil could only parry Dembele's effort into his path four yards out. Dembele turned scorer when Olise played him through with a delicious outside-of-the-boot left-foot pass. The PSG star finished emphatically for what was remarkably his first goal in 19 major tournament games for his country.
Impact on Tournament Standings
The result moves France on to six points and seals their place in the last 32. Les Bleus play Norway in their final group match on Friday. Argentina icon Messi had earlier scored a brace of his own to take the outright record for most goals at World Cups from Miroslav Klose as Argentina beat Austria 2-0.
