Mbappe scores twice as France reach knockout stage

2 years ago 35

ARTICLE AD BOX

By Shamoon HafezBBC Sport at Stadium 974, Doha

Last updated on 23 minutes ago.From the section World Cup

Kylian Mbappe scored twice for France as the defending champions laid down a marker by beating Denmark to become the first team into the World Cup knockout stage.

The 23-year-old forward, France's youngest scorer in the competition, stole the show once again with second-half strikes to take his side through.

Mbappe had earlier blazed over from 12 yards and forced Kasper Schmeichel into a save with a rising shot.

But the Paris St-Germain star broke the deadlock just past the hour mark, exchanging a fine one-two with Theo Hernandez before stroking in.

Denmark equalised just seven minutes later with their first effort on target as defender Andreas Christensen headed home at the far post after France failed to clear a corner.

Christensen, though, may have counted himself lucky to still be on the pitch at that point after receiving only a yellow card on 20 minutes for dragging back Mbappe, who was looking to run clear.

France keeper Hugo Lloris made a sharp stop to keep out Tottenham team-mate Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg's first-time shot while Martin Braithwaite agonisingly fired into the side netting.

But with four minutes left, Mbappe had the final say, sneaking in at the far post to convert Antoine Griezmann's cross.

Relive France's victory over Denmark

More to follow.

How to play

Rate players out of 10 throughout or after the game. The rater will close 30 minutes after the final whistle.

Rating range key1 = Give it up10 = Pure perfection

France

Squad number1Player nameLloris
Squad number5Player nameKoundé
Squad number4Player nameVarane
Squad number18Player nameUpamecano
Squad number22Player nameHernández
Squad number8Player nameTchouaméni
Squad number14Player nameRabiot
Squad number11Player nameDembélé
Squad number7Player nameGriezmann
Squad number10Player nameMbappé
Squad number9Player nameGiroud

Squad number13Player nameFofana
Squad number20Player nameComan
Squad number24Player nameKonaté
Squad number26Player nameThuram

Denmark

Squad number1Player nameSchmeichel
Squad number2Player nameAndersen
Squad number6Player nameChristensen
Squad number3Player nameNelsson
Squad number13Player nameKristensen
Squad number23Player nameHøjbjerg
Squad number10Player nameEriksen
Squad number5Player nameMaehle
Squad number25Player nameLindstrøm
Squad number14Player nameDamsgaard
Squad number21Player nameCornelius

Squad number9Player nameBraithwaite
Squad number12Player nameDolberg
Squad number15Player nameNørgaard
Squad number26Player nameBah

Line-ups

France

Formation 4-2-3-1

1Lloris
5KoundéBooked at 43mins
4VaraneSubstituted forKonatéat 75'minutes
18Upamecano
22Hernández
8Tchouaméni
14Rabiot
11DembéléSubstituted forComanat 75'minutes
7GriezmannSubstituted forFofanaat 90+3'minutes
10Mbappé
9GiroudSubstituted forThuramat 63'minutes

Substitutes

2Pavard
3Disasi
6Guendouzi
12Kolo Muani
13Fofana
15Veretout
16Mandanda
17Saliba
20Coman
23Aréola
24Konaté
25Camavinga
26Thuram

Denmark

Formation 3-4-2-1

1Schmeichel
2Andersen
6ChristensenBooked at 20mins
3Nelsson
13KristensenSubstituted forBahat 90+2'minutes
23Højbjerg
10Eriksen
5Maehle
25LindstrømSubstituted forNørgaardat 85'minutes
14DamsgaardSubstituted forDolbergat 73'minutes
21CorneliusBooked at 23minsSubstituted forBraithwaiteat 45'minutes

Substitutes

4Kjaer
7Jensen
9Braithwaite
11Skov Olsen
12Dolberg
15Nørgaard
16Christensen
17Stryger Larsen
18Wass
19Wind
20Poulsen
22Rønnow
24Skov
26Bah

Referee:Szymon Marciniak

Attendance:42,860

Live Text

Match ends, France 2, Denmark 1.
Second Half ends, France 2, Denmark 1.
Attempt missed. Joakim Maehle (Denmark) right footed shot from outside the box is too high.
Foul by Alexander Bah (Denmark).
Kylian Mbappé (France) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution, France. Youssouf Fofana replaces Antoine Griezmann.
Substitution, Denmark. Alexander Bah replaces Rasmus Kristensen.
Attempt saved. Kylian Mbappé (France) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Theo Hernández.
Attempt blocked. Joachim Andersen (Denmark) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Rasmus Kristensen.
Goal! France 2, Denmark 1. Kylian Mbappé (France) right footed shot from very close range to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Antoine Griezmann with a cross.
Substitution, Denmark. Christian Nørgaard replaces Jesper Lindstrøm.
Attempt missed. Pierre-Emile Højbjerg (Denmark) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Christian Eriksen.
Martin Braithwaite (Denmark) hits the right post with a right footed shot from the centre of the box. Assisted by Kasper Dolberg with a cross.
Attempt missed. Adrien Rabiot (France) left footed shot from the right side of the box is close, but misses the top right corner. Assisted by Theo Hernández with a cross following a corner.
Corner, France. Conceded by Joachim Andersen.
Attempt blocked. Jules Koundé (France) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Kingsley Coman with a cross.
Corner, France. Conceded by Joakim Maehle.
Attempt blocked. Aurélien Tchouaméni (France) header from very close range is blocked. Assisted by Antoine Griezmann with a cross.
Corner, France. Conceded by Andreas Christensen.
Corner, France. Conceded by Rasmus Kristensen.