PSG Superstars at the World Cup: The Conclusion to Group I
On Friday evening, there was World Cup Group I action for six PSG superstars, concluding who would win the group and who would progress as a third placed side.
As we begin to reach the end of the group stages at this summer's FIFA World Cup, there was plenty of action on Friday evening, for a number of PSG stars. Let's take a look at how things went for them.
To begin, the French mafia were in action against Norway in Group I, with the winner taking top spot, and the French needing just a point to secure that. In terms of the starting XI, Ousmane Dembele and Desire Doue made the cut, but it was back to the bench for Bradley Barcola, whilst Lucas Hernandez and Warren Zaire-Emery were still made to wait for their first appearances at these finals.
Seven minutes into the game, Dembele opeed the scoring with a lovely finish across goal. Before the game against Iraq, he had never scored at a tournament for France, and now he has scored twice.
Well, now he has scored three times. After 20 minutes, the Ballon D'or winner cut inside and curled a left footed effort into the bottom corner from outside the box, after a great advantage from the referee. However, Norway went straight down the other end and scored themselves.
And well, as soon as he had three goals at major tournaments, he had four. Indeed, as a little over the half hour mark, PSG's talisman secured his hat-trick with another excellent finish. On fire.
Five minutes into the second half, former PSG goalkeeper Mike Maignan saved a penalty to keep the score at 3-1. After 65 minutes, Barcola replaced Dembele for some well earned rest.
With around 90 seconds of stoppage time remaining, Doue scored his first goal of the tournament, after heading home a cross from Barcola. A great afternoon for the PSG lads who played.
Meanwhile, Ibrahim Mbaye and Senegal faced Iraq at the same time. The teenager was named in the starting XI by manager Pape Thiaw for the first time at this tournament.
At the break, Senegal were 1-0 up against a ten man Iraqi side. Five minutes into the second half, they had the opportunity to make it 2-0 following a brilliant cross from Mbaye, but Sadio Mane blazed off target when really well placed.
It mattered little in the end, as they would go onto win the game 5-0, and all but secure their place in the round of 32. Mbaye played 57 minutes.
Later on, Fabian Ruiz and his Spain side were in action against Uruguay, though the PSG midfielder was named amongst the substitutes by Luis de la Fuente for a second consecutive game.
In the end, the European Champions would win the game 1-0, securing their spot as group winners. Ruiz played the last hour of the game, creating a big chance for Ferran Torres, but he could only hit the woodwork.
For their round of 32 tie, Spain will play either Austria or Algeria.
Source: Psgworld.io