After a lackluster first half against Senegal, Kylian Mbappé delivered a double in the second half to secure a 3-1 victory for France. The reigning Ballon d'Or winner and tournament favorites looked disjointed in the opening period, struggling to connect against a well-organized Senegalese side that created better chances, including a shot that hit the post.
A Disjointed First Half
France's attack was a mess in the first half, with Michael Olise roaming aimlessly, Désiré Doué barely involved, and Ousmane Dembélé and Mbappé failing to link up. Adrien Rabiot's early pass to Mbappé led to a chance, but the forward's touch let him down. The French front four appeared unfamiliar with each other, and Senegal pressed effectively, cutting through France's lines. Nicolas Jackson's shot off Mike Maignan's near post followed an Mbappé turnover, prompting a French journalist to moan, "Oh la la la la la laaah."
Second-Half Turnaround
Whatever manager Didier Deschamps said at halftime worked. Switching Olise to the middle and Dembélé to the right improved France's intensity. In the 64th minute, Olise threaded a through ball to Mbappé, who couldn't connect, but two minutes later they combined again: Olise's diagonal pass found Mbappé, who slotted past Édouard Mendy to equal Olivier Giroud's all-time France scoring record of 57 goals. Bradley Barcola added a second after a breakaway, and Senegal's Ibrahim Mbaye pulled one back before Mbappé sealed the win with a stunning long-range strike for his 58th international goal.
Mbappé's Ruthlessness
Deschamps praised Mbappé's efficiency: "He told me he didn't want to score in a friendly but in a real match. He wanted to do it here." Despite a poor first half, Mbappé's quality made the difference. Senegal played well but couldn't contain France's star power. The French team celebrated with fans, leaving the first-half struggles forgotten.
