France opened their World Cup 2026 account with a 3-1 win over Senegal at the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
First-Half Struggles
Les Bleus made a stuttering start to their Group I journey, with a disjointed first-half performance that would have prompted Didier Deschamps to rally his troops in his half-time team talk.
Mbappe's Brilliance
In the second period, star striker Kylian Mbappe, who had struggled in the opening 45 minutes, announced himself back on the global scene with a poacher's finish to open the scoring. Substitute Bradley Barcola then hared after a glorious through pass from Adrien Rabiot to double the advantage seven minutes from time.
Senegal's Response
The deficit was halved by Senegal's rising star Ibrahima Mbaye, the Paris Saint-Germain starlet, who produced a stunning solo effort deep into stoppage time. But it was Mbappe who had the last laugh, picking the ball up in centre-field to smash a 30-yard screamer beyond Edouard Mendy and begin the beaten 2022 finalists' campaign in style.
More to follow.
