18/06/2026

SPORTS THURSDAY | JUNE 18, 2026

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Mbappe sets the tone for Les Bleus Real Madrid star has history in sights

Deschamps hails ‘extraordinary’ Kylian FRANCE COACH Didier Deschamps toasted “extraordinary” Kylian

Mbappe gave France the lead midway through the second half of a tough test against Senegal at the MetLife Stadium and wrapped up the 3-1 victory late on. In between, Bradley Barcola got France’s second goal and Ibrahim Mbaye pulled one back for Senegal in the Group I encounter. “As captain, he does a lot for the squad on and off the field even if some people think he is selfish,” said Deschamps of Mbappe, who overtook Olivier Giroud to become France’s leading scorer with 58 goals from 99 caps. “I am really pleased for him. He didn’t score in the warm-up friendly games but to break the record at the World Cup gives it more impact.” France were not convincing in the first half and were lucky not to go behind, but they ran away with the game after the break as their outstanding attacking arsenal came to the fore. Deschamps had been extremely wary of their opening opponents and of overconfidence in his squad, but France will now be optimistic of advancing to the next round ahead of games against Iraq and Norway. “It was good to win our first match against a very good Senegal team,” added Deschamps, who saw Bayern Munich’s Michael Olise star after moving from the right wing into the middle in the second half. “We had some difficulties, we were wasteful at times too, but with a bit more precision we could have created more chances,” he said of the first half. “The second half was much better after we moved Michael Olise into the middle, which tied everything together. “The way he took the ball and his pass ing ability helped us find the strikers. The more he touches the ball, the better we are. “I am really satisfied to win the first match because the way our group is set up made that very important.” France, World Cup winners in 1998 and 2018, next play Iraq in Philadelphia on Tuesday. – AFP

Mbappe after the France captain scored twice in the team’s opening game at the World Cup yesterday to become his country’s all-time top marksman. “There are still people out there who will criti cise him but he is an extraordi nary player. Not every thing

K YLIAN MBAPPE he scored twice in France’s 3-1 win over Senegal, leaving him within touching distance of Lionel Messi as he bids to become the tournament’s highest ever scorer. The Real Madrid superstar notched his team’s first goal at the MetLife Stadium, breaking the deadlock in the 66th minute from a superb Michael Olise pass. After Bradley Barcola got France’s second, and Ibrahim Mbaye pulled one back, Mbappe smashed in his second and his team’s third goal in injury time to secure the points in the Group I encounter. It was the perfect start to the World Cup for the side seen by many as the favourites, and the brace made Mbappe his country’s all-time top scorer. He began the day one goal behind Olivier Giroud, his team mate in France’s victorious 2018 World Cup campaign, but is now one ahead of the former Arsenal striker on 58 goals from 99 caps. “I am really pleased and happy to make a little more history for my country,” Mbappe said. “It is something I always wanted to do, although we know why we are here, so I think I will have the time to think about all these things once I stop playing.” He added: “We want to keep writing the biggest page in the his tory of the French national team. We know the road is very long, but we are ready.” France have reached four finals in the last seven World Cups, including in each of the last two. Winners in 2018, they lost the 2022 final on penalties to Argentina after an epic contest in Doha in which Mbappe scored a hat-trick. Now they are dreaming of win ning a third World Cup, in what is the final tournament in charge for coach Didier Deschamps as he prepares to step down after 14 years at the helm. Deschamps launched Mbappe’s international career as an 18-year-old in 2017, and over saw his explosion onto the world stage at the following year’s tour nament in Russia. Scorer of four goals in 2018, after breaking France scoring record renewed his remarkable relationship with the World Cup yesterday as

came off for him, but he can win games in one moment,” Deschamps said of the Real Madrid super star.

including one in the 4-2 final win over Croatia, he was the top scorer in 2022 in Qatar with eight. His brace yesterday takes him to 14 goals in 15 World Cup appearances overall, a strike-rate that helps explain why Deschamps described his captain as “extraordinary”. In the space of half an hour in the New Jersey sunshine, Mbappe broke away from Pele’s mark of 12 World Cup goals, and overtook another French great, Just Fontaine. Fontaine scored 13 World Cup goals, all of them in 1958 in Sweden. Mbappe, who netted 42 goals in 44 games for Real Madrid this season, is now level with West Germany legend Gerd Muller in the all-time list. Ahead of him lie only Brazil’s Ronaldo, with 15, as well as Lionel Messi and Germany’s Miroslav Klose, who have 16 after Messi became the joint leading scorer in tournament history thanks to a dazzling hattrick yesterday against Algeria. Mbappe will still fancy his chances of getting to the current record mark before the group stage ends, with Les Bleus facing Iraq in Philadelphia on Tuesday before playing Norway in Boston on June 27. “It is really incredible what he does, in every game and every training session. He never ceases to amaze us,” said Barcola. Curiously, Mbappe’s World Cup tally contrasts with his European Championship record of one goal in nine matches – a penalty against Poland at Euro 2024. In the meantime, France’s opening game suggests a man their future opponents should fear perhaps even more is Olise. The Bayern Munich winger produced a devastating perform ance in his World Cup debut after moving from the right wing into a central role behind Mbappe. “It is so easy to play with Michael. He always has his head up and you just need to try to give him the option,” Mbappe said. “He always wants to go for ward and serve his teammates. I knew he would find me every time I made a run. It’s super cool.” – AFP

France coach Didier Deschamps celebrates after his side’s victory over Senegal in their Group I match at the 2026 Fifa World Cup in East Rutherford, New Jersey yesterday. – AFPPIC

Lack of concentration cost us, says Senegal’s Mendy

players had shown they could compete with one of the tourna ment favourites. “We had a very good first half and created several chances, but against a team like France you have to be more clinical,” Thiaw said after the match. “My players showed courage and discipline. For long periods we caused France problems and prevented them from play ing their game. “The difference was their effi ciency in front of goal. We had opportunities that could have changed the match, but at this level you are punished when you don’t take them.” Thiaw said Senegal’s per formance offered plenty of encouragement despite the defeat. “There are positives to take from this game. “We played with personality and intensity against a world class opponent. “Now we have to recover, learn from our mistakes and focus on the next match. The group is still very open and we remain confident in our chances.”– AFP/Agencies

winner with Chelsea in 2021, said he did not believe there was a gaping chasm between the two teams. “We know what our qualities are and that we are capable of playing better,” he said. “We were especially lax when it came to retaining possession, we should have been more con sistent in keeping it. “But then again we did have a very good team as the opposi tion today.” Mendy, an Africa Cup of Nations winner in 2021, said there was still all to play for in terms of reaching the second round. The 2002 quarterfinalists have Norway next Monday followed by Iraq four days later. “As I said even if we won this match, the group would still be open,” said Mendy, who plays his club football for Saudi Arabian side Al-Ahli. “Today we lost but just as in 2022 (when they lost their open ing group game but recovered to reach the knockout stages) we must rest and focus on Norway.” Senegal coach Pape Thiaw refused to be overly discour aged by the result, insisting his

SENEGAL goalkeeper Edouard Mendy said his side had paid for taking their eye off the ball at critical moments in the 3-1 defeat by France in their opening World Cup match on Tuesday. The Senegalese regretted not taking their chances in the first half as France found their rhythm and a double by Kylian Mbappe and a goal by Bradley Barcola saw them comfortably home in the Group I clash in East Rutherford. Ibrahim Mbaye was on the mark for Senegal. Mendy said that even though they may have had the better of the first half, the Lions of Teranga had failed to execute their game plan. “We were a bit sluggish in the first-half,” the 34-year-old told beIn Sports . “We knew that in the second we had to raise our level, be more cutting edge in attack. “We were at times, although against teams like these, you have to be totally on your game defensively and offensively. “You cannot take your eye off the ball because you are up against pure talent.” Mendy, a Champions League