Could France do it on a hot, humid, waterlogged and lightning threatened night in Pennsylvania The question hung in the air longer than the thunderhea...
Could France do it on a hot, humid, waterlogged and lightning threatened night in Pennsylvania The question hung in the air longer than the thunderheads over Philadelphia Stadium. After a two hour interruption for severe storms, with the pitch cut up and the atmosphere thick enough to drink, Didier Deschamps' side offered a resounding answer. This was not merely a win. It was a statement of intent delivered through the kind of clinical finishing that separates champions from contenders.Kylian Mbappé, as ever, was the architect of the evening. His first goal, a rip snorter from outside the box, arrived after a period of sustained French dominance. It was a strike that seemed to defy the conditions, a clean hit that arrowed into the top corner with the kind of venom that leaves goalkeepers helpless. The second, a tap in after a catastrophic defensive collapse from Iraq, was less elegant but equally vital. It showcased his predatory instincts, the ability to be in the right place when the opposition lose their heads. With each passing game, his personal duel with Lionel Messi for the tournament's soul takes on greater shape. This was another round to the Frenchman.Ousmane Dembélé finally broke his duck at a major tournament, bagging the third goal with a finish that balanced composure and power. For a player so often criticised for his erratic final ball, this was a moment of vindication. Deschamps, showing the tactical flexibility that defines his tenure, had already made three changes to keep his side fresh in the oppressive heat. He was even able to withdraw Dembélé and Michael Olise on the hour, saving their legs for more taxing contests ahead. That is the mark of a squad with depth and a manager who thinks three moves ahead.Iraq, to their credit, did not simply park the bus. They offered a physical challenge, a low block that required France to be patient and precise. Yet the storms, which had threatened to make a farce of the fixture, only seemed to sharpen the French focus. When the rain finally relented and the lightning retreated, the men in blue were ready. They controlled transitional play, dominated possession in the middle third, and ruthlessly exploited the space left by tiring legs. The scoreline, on balance, was fair. You suspect the rest of the tournament watching on will have noted the result with genuine concern.
