Kylian Mbappe scored twice as France beat Denmark to become the first side to confirm their place in the last-16 in another statement from the holders.
The 2-1 win also ensured France are the first reigning champions since Brazil in 2006 to avoid a humiliating group-stage exit, and an impressive display suggests they could be the first side since the Selecao in 1962 to retain the World Cup.
Denmark, meanwhile, must beat Australia to reach the knockouts but should not be too disheartened after going close to a spirited comeback in the second half. Andreas Christensen equalised seven minutes after Mbappe had fired France ahead on the counter-attack, and the game might have been different if Hugo Lloris had not saved well from Jesper Lindstrom at 1-1.
Kaspar Schmeichel also made smart saves to deny Adrien Rabiot in the first half and Mbappe after the break, but France’s wonderboy proved too much to contain, bundling home at the back post four minutes from time.
Mbappe, who is now level with Zinedine Zidane for international goals, has scored three times in Qatar, leaving him well-placed for the Golden Boot.
As much as anything, the sheer variety of France’s forward players -- even without the injured Karim Benzema -- will make them hard to stop at this tournament, even if Denmark kept them at bay for an hour.
Ousmane Dembele and Mbappe, two of the players most capable of getting fans off their seats at the finals, provide pace, trickery and, in Mbappe’s case, a willingness to shoot from almost anywhere.
The two wide players both prefer to come inside on their preferred foot but can go either way, and their quick feet are almost impossible to predict.
Antoine Griezmann, who set up Mbappe’s winner, provides direct running and poise across the width of the pitch, often dropping deep into pockets of space to pick up the ball before driving at Denmark.
But for all their quality, France are not precious about crossing early for veteran Olivier Giroud or chucking balls into the box for the centre-forward or Rabiot to attack.
Didier Deschamps’ side faced criticism for their pragmatism even as they won the last World Cup in Russia but their willingness to play ugly makes them particularly formidable opponents.
It is no surprise that Deschamps did not call-up a replacement for Benzema, leaving him with just 24 players after the injury to Lucas Hernandez. There is enough variety in his current players.
By contrast, Denmark are clearly short of quality in the final third and Christensen’s header from Christian Eriksen’s flicked-on corner remains their only goal in two matches. Compared to France’s attack, Denmark’s lone centre-forward Andreas Cornelius was pedestrian and isolated, and it was no surprise when he was hooked at half-time for Marcus Braithwaite, with one fierce effort wide of the near post -- and a rash booking -- his only notable contributions.
France’s variety was underlined by the way the game subtly changed at the interval, with Denmark more proactive in possession after the break but France equally threatening when asked to play on the counter-attack.
Les Bleus dominated the first 45 minutes, with Rabiot’s flicked header extending Schmeichel and Jules Kounde seeing an effort well blocked as Mbappe and Dembele stretched the Danes.
The introduction of Braithwaite helped Denmark onto the front foot but that only suited Mbappe more, and he offered a warning of what was to come when he turned Joachim Anderson on the halfway line and burst into the Denmark half. His shot from distance was saved by Schmeichel.
The goalkeeper could not stop the Paris Saint-Germain forward a few minutes later, however, as he exchanged passes with Theo Hernandez and poked home after a clinical break.
France lost focus for Denmark’s equaliser, which will have frustrated Deschamps, and Lindstrom’s first-time shot forced Lloris into a sprawling save -- a moment Denmark may look back on in agony.
It was telling how simple France found it to raise the tempo in the final 10 minutes and they had twice gone close, including through Rabiot’s acrobatic effort, when Mbappe bundled home Griezmann’s cross with his knee at the far post.
It was a scrappy and forgettable goal to win the game, and another reminder that this France side are equal parts beauty and the beast, making them even more dangerous.
