Mbappe’s milestone carries France forward
YEKATERINBURG, Russia — Fast, exciting and the youngest scorer in France’s World Cup history. Kylian Mbappe is the one. At 19 years and 183 days, Mbappe became the youngest player to score for France’s national team on soccer’s biggest stage. And his reward was leading his squad into the round of 16 with a 1-0 victory over Peru on Thursday.
“I’ve always said that the World Cup is a dream for any player,” said Mbappe, who was born a few months after France won the 1998 title. “It is a dream come true and I hope I will have more like this.”
With two wins from two matches in Group C, France is through to the next round with a match to spare. Peru was eliminated.
Paul Pogba, one of France’s best players, set up the 34thminute goal for Mbappe. Pogba beat his defender and passed to Olivier Giroud, who then chipped the ball toward the goal for Mbappe to easily tap in past goalkeeper Pedro Gallese.
France coach Didier Deschamps made a pair of tactical adjustments after an underwhelming performance in the team’s opening win over Australia. He put Giroud and Blaise Matuidi in the starting lineup but kept the same 4-3-2-1 formation with Giroud up front.
Both used their speed and passing abilites to expose and exploit gaps in Peru’s back line and defense.
Paolo Guerrero started for Peru after coming off the bench in the opening loss to Denmark. He came out with energy, but he cooled down after receiving a yellow card in the 23rd minute.
“We gave it our best in two matches,” Peru coach Ricardo Gareca said.. “We came into this match with a completely different set of expectations, but I have nothing to hold against my players. France is a hard team to harness. France corrected its style over the course of the game, this proves that France is a great side.”
AUSTRALIA 1, DENMARK 1
Mile Jedinak has a knack for penalty kicks and his strategy is beyond simple.
“Just to get that ball in the back of the net,” the Australia captain said after converting from the spot to give Australia a draw against Denmark in Samara and new life at the World Cup.
The 38th-minute penalty was set up after Denmark forward Yussuf Poulsen was called for a handball following a video review.
Poulsen was also cautioned by the referee and will be suspended for the team’s final group match against France because of yellow card accumulation.
The goal was Jedinak’s second from the spot at this year’s World Cup, and it snapped Denmark goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel’s five-match streak of shutouts for the Danes.
“It’s more just composing and staying concentrated, regardless of the situation, regardless of where you’re standing and regardless of what’s going on around you,” said Jedinak, who has converted 16 straight penalties.
Christian Eriksen scored in the opening minutes for Denmark, which has gone unbeaten in 17 straight international matches.
Going into the tournament, No. 36 Australia was the lowestranked team in Group C with the others all in the top 12.
The highlight of Group C will be the match between France and Denmark on Tuesday in Moscow.