Could France do it on a hot, humid, waterlogged and lightning-threatened night in Pennsylvania? The answer was pretty straightforward. Despite an interruption of more than two hours after a chain of severe thunderstorms disrupted play at Philadelphia Stadium, France brushed past the physical challenge of Iraq, and furthered Kylian Mbappé’s personal duel with Lionel Messi in the process.
The France captain got another two goals on the night of his 100th cap, the first a rip-snorter from outside the box after a period of dominance, the second a tap in after calamitous defending from Iraq. Ousmane Dembélé got the third, his first goal at a major tournament. Didier Deschamps, meanwhile, was able to confirm passage to the knockout rounds, rest players from his starting XI, and even retire Dembélé and Michael Olise on the hour, preserving them for more taxing contests. There were no clouds on this particular horizon.
