Mbappe saves France the blushes

PSG star’s cameo helps them recover from 02 deficit against Iceland in home friendly

GUINGAMP,FRANCE: Kylian Mbappe inspired a fightback from world champions France as they rallied from two goals down at home to earn a 2-2 draw with Iceland here on Thursday. Birkir Bjarnason swept Iceland ahead from the edge of the area on 30 minutes, and Kari Arnason’s excellent second-half header doubled their lead in Guingamp. But Mbappe, brought on as a substitute for the final half-hour, gave France a lifeline when his shot was saved and then inadvertently turned in by Iceland defender Holmar Orn Eyjolfsson. The Paris Saint-Germain forwardlevelledfromthe penalty spot in the 90th minute after Kolbeinn Sigthorsson handled at a corner.

“The team saw we needed to do something else. I bring what I can do,” Mbappe told TF1. “We saw the fans were completely behind us even if it wasn’t a big stadium. We wanted to do everything for the people who were there.

“We got the draw, we didn’t lose, but we’re still a bit annoyed.” France coach Didier Deschamps fielded six of the players that began the World Cup final against Croatia, handing in-form Marseille winger Florian Thauvin his first start as Mbappe was left on the bench.

Iceland were beaten 5-2 by France in the quarter-finals of Euro 2016, and new coach Erik Hamren’s reign had started disastrously with two defeats to open their Nations League campaign. But the Nordic nation stunned the hosts as Aston Villa midfielder Bjarnason beat Hugo Lloris with a low strike.

A searing Thauvin strike fizzed just over the crossbar early in the second half, with an Antoine Griezmann header also turned behind by Runarsson. Arnason connected superbly as Iceland surged two goals clear on 58 minutes.

Mbappe then snatched a draw in the final minute with a nerveless spot-kick.