World Cup 2022: Mbappé towers over Denmark with two goals

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Andreas Christensen wants to stop Kylian Mbappé – but how is that supposed to work fairly?

Photo: PAUL ELLIS / AFP

In Zidane's footsteps:

Kylian Mbappé is fast.

Damned fast.

The French superstar not only wins every running duel.

He also never has to be offside because he can cover the distance to the goal in the seconds that the pass is in the air anyway.

It was the same with the winning goal against Denmark: A sprint into Antoine Griezmann's cross, heaved the ball into the goal with his thigh and decided another game (86th minute).

Not only is Mbappé with France the first team to reach the round of 16 at the World Cup, his 31st international goal also saw him draw level with the legendary Zinédine Zidane.

Anyone who is as fast as the Paris Saint-Germain striker can do it at the age of 23.

The result:

France defeated Denmark 2-1 (0-0), making it the first time since 2010 that a defending champion survived the group stage of the World Cup.

Go here for the match report.

Two types of squad depth:

The mood of the two favorites in Group D was very different after the start.

For France, the 4-1 win over Australia was a good start, for Denmark, a 0-0 draw with Tunisia was a disappointment.

It was so deep that Kasper Hjulmand rotated three new attackers into the team: creative man Mikkel Damsgaard, assault tank Andreas Cornelius and speed dribbler Jesper Lindström should cause danger.

Talented players, but: the Danish complete change of offensive clearly came out of necessity.

World champions France also faced the Danes with a completely new defensive trio – Theo Hernández replaced his injured brother Lucas, the addition of Jules Koundé and Raphaël Varane read more as if Didier Deschamps wanted to give all his world-class players competition practice.

Who cares about the Nations League?

The role of favorites could actually be discussed before kick-off.

Sure, France is the defending champion, has the bigger stars, is in better shape.

In June as in September, however, both teams met in the Nations League for a duel, twice the winner was Denmark.

However, the first 45 minutes gave no indication of a repetition: a header from Adrien Rabiot (21'), a shot from Antoine Griezmann (33'), a number of smaller chances for Mbappé's storm - France dominated the game at Stadium 974 in Doha, had 13 shots at the break.

Denmark's offensive?

As pale as against Tunisia.

Your own medicine:

In British football there is a nice term "shithousery".

It describes behavior on the pitch that boldly moves within the limits of what is permitted in order to influence the game in your own favour.

Denmark's Joachim Andersen is a pro at it: At the start of the season, the Crystal Palace defender harassed his opponent Darwin Núñez until he committed an assault and was thrown off the field.

Against France's storm veteran Olivier Giroud, even with nine years of England experience, it worked less well.

This time it was Andersen who turned to referee Szymon Marciniak after a face wipe from Giroud – in vain.

Eleven against eleven instead of ten against ten:

The scene probably didn't deserve more than a yellow card.

As well as two other scenes in which the fear of being sent off rippled through the stadium at least briefly: first a supposed emergency brake by Andreas Christensen against Mbappé (20th), later a kick by Jules Koundé on the ankle of Victor Nelsson.

Glad this game didn't get blown up.

Only briefly human:

After the break, Mbappé only found his way through the Danish defense after a one-two with Hernández (61st).

A goal that should start the best Danish phase: First Christensen equalized after a corner by Christian Eriksen, then Lindström shot at France keeper Hugo Lloris (73'), Martin Braithwaite, who came at the break, hit the outside of the post (82'). .

Should France give up this dominant game?

Mbappe gave the answer.

This is how it goes on:

On Wednesday at 4 p.m. in Group D, the showdown will take place for the remaining place in the round of 16 behind France.

Denmark has to win against Australia for that – and hope that the French don't go too slow against Tunisia, who have the same number of points.