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Holders France rode a Kylian Mbappe brace to overcome familiar rivals Denmark 2-1 in an intriguing Group D clash in the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Stadium 974 on Saturday (November 26).
While France chose a familiar 4-2-3-1 formation with Olivier Giroud as the sole striker, the Danes fielded three centre-backs and four midfielders in front to counter the potent French attack.
The game began with Denmark enjoying a good spell of possession as the 2018 winners sat back and held their shape. Slowly, though, France began getting on the ball with Antoine Griezmann dropping deep and pulling the strings. Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele began their familiar dribble-and-run routine simultaneously.
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The first great chance fell to Adrian Rabiot in the 21st minute, but his powerful header from a Griezmann corner was parried away by Kasper Schemeichel. France's intensity seemed to ebb and flow as the game progressed, and the Danes utilised this lacuna well on counters. Andreas Cornelius got on the end of one such quick break in the 35th but shot narrowly wide.
Meanwhile, Mbappe blasted over from a Dembele cross from the right on the half volley while unmarked. Both Giroud and Griezmann were also off target from good positions as the first half dragged to a close.
Mbappe opened the scoring in the 61st minute, running with purpose at the Denmark defence from the left wing and finding Theo Hernandez with a reverse pass. Hernandez's low cross was met by the PSG man from close range, and France were 1-0 up.
The lead lasted a little more than six minutes, as the Danes roared back into the game with purpose. Andreas Kristensen headed home powerfully from a corner on one bounce in the 68th. Joachim Andersen had flicked the ball onto the path of the centre-back from a Christian Eriksen corner.
The game wound towards a thrilling finale, and Denmark seemed to have the upper hand in the search for a winner. Lindstrom first stung the fingers of Hugo Lloris with a powerful shot in the 72nd minute. Later, substitute Martin Brathwaite got in front of Jules Kounde to meet a low cross from the right in the 81st but shot narrowly wide.
They would go on to rue those misses, as Mbappe got on to the end of a curling Griezmann cross from the right wing in the 86th minute, right in front of Schemeichel in goal and bundled it home.
France held on to secure two wins in two and are the first team to go through to the knockouts. Meanwhile, Denmark are placed precariously in third with one point and must beat Australia in their final game to progress.
On that note, here are the hits and flops from the game:
#5 Hit - Antoine Griezmann (France)
The Atletico Madrid forward has shone in an unfamiliar role in the two games he has played in so far. Griezmann is putatively the central figure in the three attackers behind the striker, but he does a lot more than attack.
Griezmann drops deep during turnovers to help out the double pivot, break up play and even go in for tackles. In attack, he's the creator-in-chief, using his vision and passing mastery to open up defences. Griezmann made 81% of his passes on the night and won 100% of his duels.
#4 Flop - Andreas Cornelius (Denmark)
Denmakr manager Kasper Hjulmand showed great faith in Cornelius by starting him despite his epic miss in the last game.
To be fair, he did not exactly make the most of his chance. Cornelius managed just one shot (off-target) and a 71% pass success and was taken off at the break.
#3 Hit - Theo Hernandez (France)
Theo Hernandez has grabbed his chance with both hands even if that has come under unfortunate circumstances. He was subbed in place of his brother Lucas, who got injured in the first game and was ruled out of the tournament. There has been no looking back for Theo.
Not only did he assist Mbappe's first goal on a characteristic overlapping run, he also put in a decent stint defensively, even though one or two crosses came in from that flank. He won five duels and made three clearances.
#2 Flop - Martin Brathwaite (Denmark)
Denmark might feel they deserved something from this game, but where they lacked was a clinical finisher leading the line.
After Cornelius was ineffective, Brathwaite was brought on in the second half. It's safe to say, the move did not work. The former Barcelona player made just one attempt at goal and missed it and had a woeful 50% (3/6) passing accuracy.
#1 Hit - Kylian Mbappe (France)
What more can one say about this generational talent? Like in the Australia game, Mbappe took time to get into the groove. But once he did, there was no looking back.
His two goals were just the icing on the cake. Mbappe's dribbling, passing, crossing, shooting and assured touch lit up the stadium the moment he found his feet. He was successful 90% of the time he tried a pass and made three key ones during his stay on the pitch.
Mbappe now has three goals in two games at this year's World Cup, continuing from where he left off in the 2018 final, where he scored in the win against Croatia.
