When quizzed about how he planned to stop France’s formidable attacking armada in their Group I match on Monday, Iraq coach Graham Arnold came up with an idea that just might have worked.
“I asked if we could play three goalkeepers,” quipped the veteran coach. “But they said no.”
After reaching the last two World Cup finals, France have brought an even more fearsome squad to the 2026 tournament, packed with a wealth of offensive talent that leaves manager Didier Deschamps spoilt for choice as he wraps up his 14-year tenure.
A second-half blitz against Senegal in their opening match highlighted the firepower at Deschamps’ disposal, with Mbappé scoring twice and Bradley Barcola adding a third within minutes of coming off the bench.
Read moreWorld Cup 2026: Mbappé becomes France’s record scorer as Les Bleus down valiant Senegal
Mbappé has already reached one major landmark at this year’s World Cup by becoming his country’s all-time top scorer. On Monday he will hit another when he wins his 100th international cap against Iraq.
“It is always a pleasure to have the chance to play for your country. There is nothing bigger,” the striker told reporters in Philadelphia. “One hundred is a historic figure, and to have the chance to reach that tally here at a World Cup means it will be a special match for me.”
Olise breaking the mould
While Mbappé’s brace saw him grab the headlines, it was Michael Olise’s performance that turned the game around after a sluggish start for Les Bleus, slicing through the Senegalese lines and raising hopes that France might finally play the type of attacking football Deschamps has always resisted.
In his remarks to the press on Sunday, Mbappé backed up those hopes.
“This is a more attacking team than in 2018 and 2022, a team that is much more geared towards going forward,” said the France captain. “The second half was already a glimpse of what we can do when we’re in good technical conditions.”
Mbappé said the understanding between himself, Olise, Ousmane Dembélé and Désiré Doué was beginning to take shape and could make France increasingly difficult to contain as the tournament progresses.
“We had that connection with Michael because the four of us in attack managed to be perfectly coordinated in terms of movement, positioning and rotations,” he said.
“With this type of movement and rotation, maybe tomorrow it will be two other attacking players who shine more. The advantage of this team is having so much talent. We are very aware of the quality we have up front.”
What about Dembélé?
The France captain also brushed aside suggestions that Ballon d’Or winner Dembélé underperformed against Senegal.
“In the first half, he’s the best attacker out of the four. He’s the one who makes our play flow the most,” Mbappe said after rewatching the match twice. “Then in the second half, Michael and I were decisive, but Ousmane also contributed.”
Mbappé praised Dembélé’s movement for creating the space that allowed France’s attack to flourish after the break.
“That doesn’t show up in the statistics but it’s very important because otherwise we wouldn’t have scored,” he said. “Ousmane is very calm. He’s the Ballon d’Or winner. He has the confidence of the team and the staff. I’m sure from tomorrow onwards he will continue moving forward and grow stronger.”
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Dembélé scored 35 goals in all competitions in the 2024-25 season as Paris Saint-Germain won their first Champions League title. But he has played further back for France under Deschamps, with Mbappé remaining the focus of the attack.
“He is really playing further forward at his club, which is not the case here,” Deschamps said. “Those are some adjustments we have to make.”
(FRANCE 24 with Reuters, AFP)
