France in the round of 16 in Qatar 2022: Mbappé returns to shine and with a brace gives the world championship victory against Denmark

When its stars light up, France overwhelms. When Kylian Mbappé takes flight, the French team seems unstoppable. And that’s what sometimes happened this Saturday at the 974 stadium in Doha, where the great Frenchman scored two goals and gave the world champion the victory against Denmark and the ticket for the round of 16.

It was not an easy task for France to overcome the good Danish team, who knew how to put them in difficulty but will have to suffer in the last date to try to stay alive in the World Cup due to a lackluster draw with Tunisia in their debut : his luck will be decided all or nothing with Australiawho beat the African team.

France have lost figures due to injury but Didier Deschamps can rest assured because the eleven chosen and also the variants he has on the bench make the French team a formidable adversary for anyone.

The French international feel comfortable pressing just a little in the middle of the pitch to shoot wide with Dembelé on the right and Mbappé on the left, but they also take possession without problems, with midfielders like Rabiot and Tchouameni, or the quality of Griezmann who at sometimes it becomes connected.

The ‘Bleus’ are candidates and that favoritism doesn’t seem to weigh on them. At least that’s what he showed in the first two rounds, where he managed to impose the hierarchy of his individuality and also knew how to bounce back after suffering unexpected blows, such as Australia’s opening goal or this afternoon’s Danish equalizer.

France were gaining confidence this Saturday and when half an hour was played in the first half they already cornered Denmark, who only breathed as their good midfielders, led by Eriksen, added passes and bought time.

But Dembelé’s climbs on the right, Theo Hernandez’s verticality advancing from the left side, Mbappé’s always threatening presence and the opportunism of Griezmann and Giroud seemed like a lot to Denmark. Indeed, if I’m on a good day, I’m too much for anyone.

A header from Varane, emblem of the defense who played his first minutes in Qatar, and a couple of bad definitions allowed Denmark to go scoreless.

The second half began the same way, with France looking ineffective and Denmark trying to handle the ball and add a pass to reach Lloris with associated play.

The Danish resistance, led by Kasper Schmeichel, resisted until the 60th minute. A great collective move initiated by Mbappé and followed by Hernández on the left allowed the French star to open the scoring.

France with space and an advantage seemed too much for Denmark, but those led by Kasper Hjulmand continued with their recipe, stringing together passes and finally equalizing from a corner.

Andreas Christensen jumped highest of all in the box, getting ahead of the French defenders and leveling the game. At that point, it seemed like a prize too much for Denmark.

But as has been said, when its stars light up, France overwhelms. There were five minutes to go when Griezmann took the ball down the right, sent a poisonous cross to the far post and Mbappé gained position from the defender and scored the decisive goal.

France won and broke down the statistic that says in recent years that world champions can’t make it to the last 16 when they have to defend their title.

The French team confirmed this Saturday that they are candidates for the title, they have become the first selected to secure a ticket to the round of 16 and are waiting to meet their rival, who will leave the group in which Argentina tries to recover to stay in life in Qatar.

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