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Mbappe Fires France Into Round of 16

Mbappe Fires France Into Round of 16

Luay Ahmed

The first opportunity of the evening fell to Ousmane Dembele, who carried the ball out of his own half and spread the ball wide to Mbappe. Mbappe played the ball back to Dembele who attempted a long-range strike that was blocked by the Danish defense.

France’s next serious attacking sequence came in the 19th minute when Antoine Griezmann played a long through ball behind the Danish defense and found Kylian Mbappe who was cynically tackled by Christensen. The Danish center back received a yellow card as Griezmann lined up to take the resulting free kick.

Griezmann played his free kick to Dembele who crossed the ball from the right wing, finding a rising Adrien Rabiot in the box. The midfielder’s header drew a top-class save from Schmeichel in the Danish goal.

Ten minutes later, Mbappe found some space on the right wing and sent in a dangerous cross to the far post. Kounde took a shot that was blocked by the Danish defense, with France finding their rhythm in the game.

Denmark finally found a way into the French penalty area with ten minutes to go in the half. A quick counterattack saw Cornelius attacking from the right channel, only to drive a shot wide of Hugo Lloris’ near post.

Denmark would not be able to maintain the momentum as France quickly began to dominate the ball around the Danish penalty area once again. In the 39th minute, Ousmane Dembele played in a dangerous low cross into the penalty area. Kylian Mbappe, who stood unmarked just behind the penalty spot, blasted the resulting effort over the bar.

France started the second half where they left off in the first. A clever turn from Mbappe in the 55th minute saw him race 40 yards toward the Danish goal before unleashing a powerful shot that was strongly saved by Schmeichel.

In the 61st minute, France finally scored the goal their play had deserved. Mbappe played Hernandez through to the byline before Hernandez cut the ball back for Mbappe who slotted home his team's first goal of the game.

Denmark hit back instantly. A Christian Eriksen corner was nodded onto the back post by Andersen, for Christiensen to head home to tie the game at 1-1.

France continued to apply the pressure, and it paid off for them in the 86th minute when an Antoine Griezmann cross from the left wing was met at the far post by Mbappe who bundled home to confirm the 3 points in France’s favour.