It was not exactly the script penned by the tournament organisers, but then World Cups rarely are. France's Group H opener against Iraq in Philadelphi...
It was not exactly the script penned by the tournament organisers, but then World Cups rarely are. France's Group H opener against Iraq in Philadelphia was always going to be a peculiar affair. A cacophony of pre match hype music, two over eager cheerleaders in the stands, and a rather flat call for a round of applause for peace would have made for a strange atmosphere even before the heavens opened. But as our man Paul MacInnes reported for GoalZaza, the real story began when the storm did.The delay, lasting two hours, could have broken a lesser side's rhythm. For the French, it seemed merely to sharpen the focus. When the players finally emerged onto a rain soaked pitch, the electric atmosphere that had been bubbling in the stands despite the downpour translated into immediate intent. The Iraqi contingent, packed into the stand behind one goal and visible all over the city for days, was not to be silenced. They gave their side a roar that suggested they fancied a shock. But against Kylian Mbappé and this French machine, sentiment counts for little.What followed was a masterclass in patience and clinical finishing. Did Iraq park the bus Not exactly. They attempted to play, but the French low block was non existent because they simply refused to let the game settle. The first goal came from a devastating transitional move, a sharp exchange that ripped through the Iraqi lines. The second was a piece of individual brilliance that left the goalkeeper clutching at air. The third, a header from a set piece that showcased France's tactical flexibility from dead ball situations. It was a scoreline that flattered the brave Iraqi resistance in phases, but ultimately reflected the gulf in class on the night. France, after the storm, were simply immovable.
