Mbappé sent France on – Denmark must win the last game – Dagsavisen
With one point after two matches, they are level with Tunisia and two points behind Australia. Thus, Denmark is dependent on beating Australia on Wednesday, as well as France not losing to Tunisia. Should the North Africans beat France, Denmark must win by enough goals to advance on goal difference. Denmark opened the WC with a disappointing 0-0 draw against Tunisia.
– It’s the little things again. It was almost as if the match had become a little call. We give France submissions we don’t have to make. We even had a good chance like before, said national team manager Kasper Hjulmand to Danish TV2 after the match.
Reigning champion France, on the other hand, is ready for the round of 16 with Saturday’s victory. They have six points and are five points behind Denmark in third place. The French are the first team to secure a place in the cup game. They will also most likely win the group.
Paris Saint-Germain striker Mbappé sent France on to the goal. Andreas Christensen equalized for Denmark after Mbappé’s first goal, but four minutes before the end the match was decided.
Mbappé is joint top scorer in the World Cup with Ecuador’s Enner Valencia with three full hits. Mbappé has seven World Cup goals in his career so far. He was also important to the team when they became champions in 2018.
Olivier Giroud came into the game hoping that with one goal he would become the highest scorer in France’s national team of all time. He equaled Thierry Henry’s 51 goals with a brace against Australia in the first World Cup match, but there was no record on Saturday.
Chances
Denmark beat France in both matches in this year’s Nations League, but they failed to complete the treble in the World Cup.
France controlled the match from the start and treasured the biggest opportunities. Denmark was not completely harmless, but France keeper Hugo Lloris was set to get tests in the 1st half. Both Mbappé and Giroud came up with great opportunities for the French.
Denmark was without captain Simon Kjær in the match. Instead, it was Galatasaray’s Victor Nelson who got an opportunity in central defence.
They kept the French attack away from the greatest opportunity, but eventually had to lose.
Goal scorer
After 60 minutes, Mbappé and «Les Bleus» could cheer for the lead goal. The PSG striker played wall with Theo Hernández in the box before tipping the ball into the goal.
Denmark pushed on after the long-range goal, and seven minutes later Barcelona stopper Christensen poked the ball into the goal from a corner kick. A few minutes later, Jesper Lindstrøm came to finish from close range, but Lloris parried well. Martin Braithwaite was also close to the whites.
France had more chances in the hunt for victory and direct promotion, and four minutes before the end, Mbappé could celebrate again. Antoine Griezmann put in a great shot at the back post, which Mbappé simply steered the ball into the net with his thigh.
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THE FACTS
WC Saturday, Group D, 2nd round:
France – Denmark 2-1 (0-0)
42,860 spectators.
Goals: 1-0 Kylian Mbappé (61), 1-1 Andreas Christensen (68), 2-1 Mbappé (86).
Referee: Szymon Marciniak, Poland.
Yellow card: Jules Koundé, France, Andreas Christensen, Andreas Cornelius, Denmark.
France (4-2-3-1): Hugo Lloris – Jules Koundé, Dayot Upamecano, Raphaël Varane (Ibrahima Konaté from 74.), Theo Hernandez – Aurélien Tchouaméni, Adrien Rabiot – Ousmane Dembélé (Kingsley Coman from 74.), Antoine Griezmann (Youssouf M. Fofana), Kylian M. Fofana. – Olivier Giroud (Marcus Thuram from 62.).
Denmark (3-4-3): Kasper Schmeichel – Joachim Andersen, Andreas Christensen, Victor Nelsson – Rasmus Kristensen (Alexander Bah from 90), Pierre-Emile Højbjerg, Christian Eriksen, Joakim Mæhle – Jesper Lindstrøm (Christian Nørgaard from 85), Andreas Cornelius (Martin Braithwaite from 46 .) .), Mikkel Damsgaard (Kasper Dolberg from 74.).