The World Cup's group stage can often feel like a polite warm up, a place for tournament favourites to find their rhythm without breaking a sweat. But...
The World Cup's group stage can often feel like a polite warm up, a place for tournament favourites to find their rhythm without breaking a sweat. But if France's performance against Senegal on Saturday afternoon is anything to go by, the reigning champions have already abandoned the script and gone straight for the jugular. A 3. 1 scoreline flatters the African side, who were largely contained by a French team that looks both ruthless and tactically flexible.Did Senegal really believe they could sit in a low block and frustrate Didier Deschamps' men For about twenty minutes, they tried. But the man who broke the deadlock was, predictably, the one who now sits alone atop the French all time scoring charts. Kylian Mbappé's brace was not just a statistical milestone; it was a clinical masterclass in transitional play. The first goal arrived after a sharp interchange on the right flank, with Mbappé drifting inside onto his weaker foot and arrowing a shot into the far corner. The second was pure predatory instinct, a poacher's finish from a loose ball in the mixer. With 58 goals, he has now surpassed Thierry Henry. Let that sink in. At 25 years old, he is France's greatest ever goalscorer.France's other goal came from a set piece, a sign of the squad's depth in attacking options. Senegal's consolation strike, a scrappy effort from a corner, was the only blemish on an otherwise commanding defensive display. Deschamps set his side up to dominate possession but also to hit quickly on the counter, and it worked to perfection. The midfield engine room, with Adrien Rabiot and Aurélien Tchouaméni, provided the platform for Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé to run riot. It was football of the highest order: purposeful, direct, and utterly professional.For Senegal, the reality is harsh but simple. They were outclassed by a team that has not just a plan A but a plan B and C. Aliou Cissé's men will need to regroup quickly if they are to progress from this group, but on this evidence, France are not just winning matches. They are sending a message to the rest of the tournament. When your leading man is rewriting the record books before the knockout rounds even begin, you know you have something special brewing. The rest of the world has been warned. France are here, Mbappé is on fire, and the group stage already feels like a procession. Squeaky bum time can wait. For now, the champions are simply enjoying the ride.
