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  • France vs Senegal, FIFA World Cup 2026 Highlights: Mbappé scores twice, breaks France record as France beat Senegal 3-1

France open their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign with a 3-1 win over Senegal in an entertaining Group I clash that came alive in the second half. Kylian Mbappé starred with a brace, including a goal that saw him become France’s all-time top scorer, while Bradley Barcola added the second to put the game beyond reach late on.

Senegal had their moments, including a late goal from 18-year-old Mbaye, but France’s quality in key moments proved decisive as they started their tournament with a statement victory and moved to the top of Group I.

What a reply from Kylian Mbappé! Just moments after Senegal pulled one back, he unleashes a superb long-range strike to make it 3-1 and seal his second goal of the night.

With that finish, Mbappé moves to 58 international goals, becoming France’s all-time top scorer outright. A defining moment in added time as he writes his name alone at the top of French football history.

Senegal have a late lifeline! At just 18 years old, Mbaye bursts through the French defence and shows incredible strength and composure to power his way past Mike Maignan before finishing to make it 2-1.

It comes deep into added time and suddenly there’s a twist in the closing stages as Senegal reduce the deficit and spark a frantic finish.

Eight minutes have been added on at the end of this match, and France look like they could still add more as their substitutes continue to make the difference.

Bradley Barcola has been a constant threat since coming on, causing real problems for the Senegal defence with his pace and movement. Rayan Cherki has also just entered the action, replacing Désiré Doué as France refresh their attacking options once again.

With Senegal tiring and France’s bench depth showing, the closing stages feel increasingly one-sided as the visitors struggle to contain wave after wave of late pressure.

It’s a superb goal from Bradley Barcola, who latches onto a perfectly weighted through ball from Adrien Rabiot and produces a composed finish, lifting it delicately over Édouard Mendy to make it 2-0 for France.

After a quiet first half, France have completely taken control in the second period, and their attacking quality has finally told as they pull away late in the game.

It’s a crushing blow for Senegal, who had been pushing for an equaliser but are now two goals down as France move closer to sealing victory.

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Senegal thought they had struck back immediately after Kylian Mbappé’s opener, with Nicolas Jackson bursting through and firing into the roof of the net from a tight angle. However, the assistant’s flag went up for offside, cutting the celebrations short.

It’s still 1-0 to France, but the second half has exploded into life, with chances coming quickly at both ends. The referee has now called for the hydration break as momentum continues to swing in this entertaining contest.

It’s the breakthrough at last, and it comes from Kylian Mbappé! Michael Olise slips a perfectly weighted pass into his path, and Mbappé does the rest, finishing calmly to put France 1-0 up.

After a tight and tense contest, France finally find the cutting edge as their captain delivers when it matters most. Senegal’s resistance is broken, and the favourites have the lead in the second half.

France briefly thought they had a chance to break the deadlock after Kylian Mbappé went down under a sliding challenge from Sadio Mané inside the box on the right. Referee Alireza Faghani initially awarded only a corner, but the incident was checked by VAR with a review at the monitor.

After checking the incident, the decision stand,

no penalty. It’s been ruled a clean challenge, and Senegal restart with a goal kick as they survive another big scare in a growingly tense second half.

This game has suddenly opened up after a slow start to the half, with chances coming thick and fast at both ends. Jules Koundé has been stepping inside from right-back to give France more control in midfield, helping release Ousmane Dembélé and Michael Olise in advanced areas.

Senegal almost struck first in the half when Ismaïla Sarr slipped Nicolas Jackson through, only for the pass to run just too long. France responded immediately, with Kylian Mbappé racing through on goal, but Édouard Mendy produced a sharp save to keep it level.

Earlier, Michael Olise danced past Kalidou Koulibaly before being denied by Mendy, while Désiré Doué also went close from distance. It’s now a proper end-to-end contest at 0-0.

Much better start to the second half from France, with Désiré Doué immediately involved. The forward brought down a long ball well before trying his luck from distance on his left foot, but his effort fizzed narrowly past the post.

France look sharper and more direct after the break as they try to wrestle control away from a Senegal side that dominated much of the first half.

That’s the final action of a lively first half in which Senegal end on top but somehow remain level at 0-0. Sadio Mané slipped in behind the French defence and picked out Ismaïla Sarr in a brilliant position right in front of goal, but he lifted his effort over the bar when he really should have scored.

It’s the second major opportunity Senegal have wasted in the half, with Nicolas Jackson earlier striking the post. France, by contrast, have looked unusually subdued despite their attacking talent and head into the break needing a response after being second best for long spells.

Ousmane Dembélé whipped a cross into the box that deflected off Kalidou Koulibaly and went behind for a France corner, but Édouard Mendy dealt with it comfortably as it dropped straight into his gloves.

The referee has confirmed six minutes of added time at the end of the first half, with both sides still locked at 0-0 in a tight finish to the opening period.

Ismaïla Sarr produced a dangerous moment for Senegal, weaving through the edge of the box before going down under pressure from William Saliba, with play allowed to continue. The loose ball fell to Sadio Mané, but his effort from distance was comfortably gathered by Mike Maignan.

However, the positive moment quickly turned concerning as Sarr remained down receiving treatment and was eventually helped off the pitch, forcing Senegal into a potential early reshuffle as the first half nears its conclusion.

We are approaching half-time with the score still level at 0-0 between France and Senegal in their FIFA World Cup 2026 clash. After Nicolas Jackson’s earlier effort against the post, the tempo has dipped following the hydration break, with neither side managing to create clear chances in a more subdued phase of play.

France, despite their star-studded lineup, have yet to fully click in attack, while Senegal continue to show bravery and discipline, matching their opponents physically and tactically. Jackson remains the closest to breaking the deadlock after his low drive struck the woodwork, beating Mike Maignan but not finding the net.

There is also a notable presence in the stands, with several celebrities in attendance and France legend Paul Pogba watching on. The former midfielder may be reflecting on what could have been, given his continued absence from the national setup despite still being only 33.

We are at the hydration break after an electric opening 26 minutes in which Senegal came agonisingly close to taking the lead. Nicolas Jackson was inches away from breaking the deadlock after a lightning-fast break, racing in behind before smashing a powerful effort against the near post, with the ball almost ricocheting in off Mike Maignan.

The move began with El Hadji Malick Diouf winning possession from Kylian Mbappé before releasing Jackson into space, highlighting Senegal’s threat on the counter. Sadio Mané has also been working hard defensively on the left, although there was a moment of lapse as Ousmane Dembélé drifted into space, only for his shot to be blocked.

France, however, have controlled large spells through sharp rotations and fluid movement, with their full-backs and midfielders combining effectively in advanced areas. Despite the chances at both ends, it remains finely poised at 0-0.

​Senegal have named an ambitious and attack-focused starting XI for their FIFA World Cup 2026 opener against France, with Sadio Mané leading a fast and fluid front line designed to exploit space in transition.

Senegal XI: Édouard Mendy; Krepin Diatta, Kalidou Koulibaly, Moussa Niakhaté, Youssouf Sabaly; Idrissa Gana Gueye, Lamine Camara, Pape Matar Sarr; Sadio Mané, Nicolas Jackson, Ismaïla Sarr.

Pape Thiaw sets his side up in a 4-3-3 formation, combining experience and energy across the pitch. The midfield trio of Gueye, Camara and Pape Matar Sarr provides defensive discipline along with forward running support, while Mané, Jackson and Sarr offer pace, movement and direct attacking threat in the final third.

At the back, captain Kalidou Koulibaly anchors a physical and organised defensive unit in front of Édouard Mendy, with Diatta, Niakhaté and Sabaly providing width, structure and resilience against France’s attacking power.

— GaindeYi (@GaindeYi)

France have named a strong and attacking starting XI for their FIFA World Cup 2026 opener against Senegal, with Kylian Mbappé captaining a side packed with pace, creativity and technical quality in the final third.

France XI: Mike Maignan; Dayot Upamecano, Jules Koundé, William Saliba, Lucas Hernández; Aurélien Tchouaméni, Adrien Rabiot; Ousmane Dembélé, Désiré Doué, Michael Olise; Kylian Mbappé.

The lineup is set up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Tchouaméni and Rabiot providing structure and defensive protection in midfield. Ahead of them, a highly technical attacking trio of Dembélé, Doué and Olise will support Mbappé, who leads the line as the central striker.

France’s approach blends balance and control with serious attacking threat, relying on speed in wide areas and Mbappé’s movement to stretch Senegal’s defence. With a back four of Koundé, Upamecano, Saliba and Hernández, France look well set to play on the front foot from the opening whistle.

— FrenchTeam (@FrenchTeam)

France and Senegal both arrive at their FIFA World Cup 2026 opener with strong qualification campaigns behind them. France, led by Kylian Mbappé, finished unbeaten in UEFA Group D with five wins and one draw, scoring 16 goals and conceding just four as they topped their group. Senegal also went unbeaten in qualifying, recording seven wins and three draws to underline their consistency under Pape Thiaw. With both sides in form heading into North America, this Group I clash brings together two confident teams with momentum on their side.

Senegal arrive at the FIFA World Cup 2026 under the leadership of Pape Thiaw, the former international who has been in charge since 2024. The 45-year-old has quickly established himself as one of Africa's most highly regarded coaches, guiding the Lions of Teranga through an unbeaten qualification campaign that delivered seven wins and three draws. Under his management, Senegal have regained the consistency and defensive discipline that made them one of the continent's strongest sides. Now leading his country into the biggest tournament of his coaching career, Thiaw faces an immediate test against France as he looks to guide Senegal toward another memorable World Cup chapter.

France begin their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign with Didier Deschamps leading the national team at a World Cup for the fourth and final time. Appointed in 2012, Deschamps has overseen one of the most successful periods in French football history, guiding Les Bleus to the 2018 World Cup title, the 2022 final and the Euro 2016 final. His triumph in Russia also placed him among a select group to have won the World Cup as both a player and a manager. Having already confirmed he will step down after the tournament, Deschamps enters the competition seeking one final achievement before ending his remarkable tenure.

Senegal enter their FIFA World Cup 2026 opener carrying memories of one of the tournament's greatest shocks. In 2002, the Lions of Teranga stunned defending champions France 1-0 in their first-ever World Cup match, a result that remains one of African football's defining moments. Twenty-four years later, they meet again with Senegal led by Sadio Mané, who finished as the nation's top scorer in qualifying with five goals. Senegal reached the tournament unbeaten, recording seven wins and three draws in 10 qualifiers, and arrive with a fully fit squad hoping to challenge the favourites and produce another statement result on football's biggest stage.

France arrive at the 2026 FIFA World Cup as one of the tournament favourites after cruising through UEFA qualification unbeaten. Didier Deschamps' side topped Group D with five wins and one draw, scoring 16 goals while conceding just four. Led by captain Kylian Mbappé, who scored five goals during qualification, Les Bleus boast one of the deepest squads in international football, with attacking talent spread across Europe's biggest clubs. After reaching the 2022 World Cup final, France enter this campaign determined to take one step further and reclaim the trophy they last won in 2018.

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Source: The Times of India