Kylian Mbappe bagged a brace as France defeated Denmark 2-1 to secure their spot in the FIFA World Cup last 16 on Saturday evening.
2022 FIFA World Cup
Result: France 2-1 Denmark
Date: 26 November 2022
Venue: Stadium 947
Raphael Varane was recalled to the French defence, with Ibrahima Konate dropping to the bench while Theo Hernandez came in for his brother Lucas, who will miss the rest of the tournament.
Olivier Giroud looked to carry on from where he left off against Australia, as he got on the end of Ousmane Dembele's cross but sent his header wide of the upright after 15 minutes.
The Danes looked to break on the counter at times while France dominated and they went close to pulling ahead on 35 minutes when Cornelius broke through on goal, but the striker blasted his effort wide of the mark.
Giroud's physicality upfront proved a difficult task for the Danish defenders, as the French striker went close with another header eight minutes before the interval.
France should have went into the break a goal to the good when Dembele got free down the right and sent a low cross into the box for Mbappe to run onto, but the striker blazed over the crossbar.
It was more of the same in the second half, but France should have opened the scoring on 59 minutes when Antoine Griezmann latched onto Aurélien Tchouaméni's pass over the top but volleyed over with only Kasper Schmeichel to beat.
A minute later, Didier Deschamps' men broke the deadlock as Mbappe bagged his second goal of the tournament by combining with Hernandez before firing past Schmeichel.
The Danes weren't behind for too long as defender Andreas Christensen lost his marker headed home Christian Eriksen's corner, which also the team's first shot on target.
Deschamps responded with a double substitution for the world champions, as Dembele and Varane made way for Kingsley Coman and Konate with 15 minutes left on the clock.
With time running out, France restored their lead in the 86th minute when Mbappe got his second goal on the night by turning home Griezmann's cross inviting cross at the far post.
Denmark pushed for an equaliser in the closing stages of the tie, but they were unable to carve out another opening as France held on for the win advance to the next round with a game to spare. The Danes, meanwhile, will have to beat Australia in their final game if they aim to progress.
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