Goals, records, and redemption—France wins the match. Pictures by Bibhash Lodh, BS News Agency.
Bibhash Lodh, BS News Agency from New Jersey: France has erased the nightmare of 24 years ago, with Kylian Mbappé at the heart of the story. A disjointed and sluggish France in the first half transformed completely after the break—a transformation driven by Mbappé. His brace propelled France to a 3-1 victory over Senegal to open their World Cup campaign. The match began quite differently at New Jersey's MetLife Stadium; despite dominating possession, France lacked attacking sharpness. Conversely, Senegal posed repeated threats through rapid counter-attacks. The African side missed chances to take the lead, notably when Nicolas Jackson’s shot struck the post and Ismaïla Sarr missed a crucial opportunity late on. Senegal’s organized defense effectively kept Mbappé in check during the first half. Although Dembélé orchestrated some attacks, the deadlock remained unbroken, and the teams went into the break goalless.
However, the complexion of the match changed in the second half. Michael Olise injected pace into the attack. In the 66th minute, he played a superb through-ball; Mbappé raced onto it and chipped the ball over goalkeeper Édouard Mendy into the net. That moment marked the beginning of France's dominance. Shortly after coming off the bench, Bradley Barcola extended the lead with a goal in the 82nd minute.
Towards the end of the match, Mbappé showcased his magic once more, sealing the victory with a stunning long-range strike.
Senegal managed to pull one back through Ibrahima Mbaye late in the game, but by then, France had firmly taken control. Mbappé also made history with his brace; he became France's all-time leading goalscorer with 58 goals, surpassing Olivier Giroud. Simultaneously, he overtook Just Fontaine on the list of France's top World Cup scorers.
All in all, despite facing pressure in the first half, France ultimately demonstrated their quality and secured the win. And Mbappé made it clear that his goal in this World Cup is not just victory, but records as well.