France weather storm to beat Iraq and sail into knockouts

Kylian Mbappe marks his 100th international cap for France with two goals in a 3-0 win over Iraq which seals Les Bleus' place in the last 32, after a two-hour storm delay.

France overcame a two-hour storm delay and a resilient Iraq side to secure a 3-0 victory, with Kylian Mbappe scoring twice on his 100th international appearance to book their place in the World Cup knockout stages. The match was originally scheduled to kick off at 3 PM local time, but a severe thunderstorm swept through the stadium, forcing a two-hour delay. When the players finally took to the slippery pitch, the atmosphere remained electric. France dominated from the start, with Mbappe heading home Antoine Griezmann's precise cross in the 12th minute to give Les Bleus an early lead. Iraq refused to be intimidated, using physical play and quick counter-attacks to threaten the French goal. In the 28th minute, Iraqi striker Ali Adnan's long-range effort struck the crossbar, leaving goalkeeper Hugo Lloris relieved. France then tightened their midfield grip, with N'Golo Kante and Aurelien Tchouameni effectively stifling Iraq's advances. France continued to press after the break. In the 55th minute, Mbappe cut inside from the left flank and curled a low shot into the far corner, the ball hitting the inside of the post before nestling in the net. It was his 46th and 47th goals for France, making him the fastest player in French history to reach that tally in 100 caps. Iraq had a golden opportunity in the 70th minute, but substitute Mohanad Ali saw his close-range effort brilliantly saved by Lloris. France then regained control, and in the 83rd minute, substitute Kingsley Coman broke down the right and crossed for Olivier Giroud, who tapped in from close range to make it 3-0. The victory secured top spot in the group for France, who will now face a formidable opponent in the round of 32. Coach Didier Deschamps said afterward: 'It was a tough match. The storm and Iraq's resilience caused us problems, but the team showed the mentality of champions.' Mbappe reflected on his milestone: '100 caps is a special achievement, but the most important thing is the team won. We have a long way to go, and our goal is to defend the title.' France are in fine form and are considered one of the favorites to lift the trophy. Iraq, though eliminated, earned respect with their performance. Coach Jesus Casas said: 'We played a great match against the world champions. The players showed fighting spirit. France were the better team, but we learned a lot.'

France weather storm to beat Iraq and sail into knockouts

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