Mbappé is unstoppable

Kylian Mbappé has no limits. France, neither. The world champion, in a heart-stopping finish, beat Denmark 2-1, certifying their pass to the round of 16 of the World Cup virtually as the first of the group. It was a match for the memory of the World Cups, so cruel for many and so fair for few, that it culminated in a goal by a striker who is already in the history of the French team, but who At 23 years old, he is on his way to breaking all possible records.

Deschamps shook the tree. Despite the successful debut against Australia, the coach introduced three novelties regarding Tuesday’s team. Theo entered, obligatorily by his brother Lucas, Varane returned to eleven for Konaté and Koundé took Pavard’s place. Denmark, forced to win, after a hesitant draw against Tunisia, delayed Eriksen to midfield due to the loss of Delaney and Hjulmand surprised with Lindstrom for Skov Olsen.

The France of doubts, that of fear and that of the disconnections of the debut did not exist at the 974 Stadium. Rather the opposite. Those of Deschamps did not want another scare against an opponent who had beaten them twice this year, both in the Nations League. Although there was a beginning of dominance with the Danish ball, from minute 10 the French whirlwind began.

With Griezmann as the connector between defense and attack, with Dembélé hammering on the right with his continuous dribbling and with Theo accelerating on the left wing, France ate Denmark. Varane warned with a shot that Nelson took on the goal line and Giroud, looking for Henry’s record, finished off a good cross from Dembélé that went wide.

The Barcelona winger, an indecipherable player, capable of making impossible plays and then missing a five-meter pass, commanded most of the French attacks, generating the world champion’s clearest opportunity in the first half, in a measured cross and subtle that finished off Rabiot, about to emulate his header on Tuesday against Australia. Mbappé did not know how to take advantage of his cross either, shooting over the crossbar with everything in his favor at the penalty spot.

The infernal French rhythm reminded the one who had given Deschamps so much glory four years ago in Russia. Denmark, stunned, unable to react, as if they were in a movie in which they are a helper, could not contain the rival attacks and tried to entrust their three central defenders to survive. The pressure after losing France, embodied in two players, Antoine Griezmann and Ousmane Dembélé, both insatiable, was also a headache for Hjulmand.

The overwhelming superiority of France could not materialize on the scoreboard. The goal was missing and Denmark celebrated the fact of going goalless at halftime as a victory. Cornelius, who disappeared before a cyclone called Upamecano (he seems to have corrected his concentration errors), was incredulous at the 0-1, but his shot went to the right of Lloris’s goal.

The second half was already more like what Kasper Hjulmand, an extraordinary Danish coach, wanted. Denmark tried to contain France through Eriksen, delaying it even more in the midfield position and forcing France to steal away from their area. Despite this, the Mbappé festival was about to begin.

The PSG striker took advantage of a great assist from Theo Hernández, unstoppable for another day, to make it 1-0 on the scoreboard. Though Denmark did not give up and equalized through Christensen, the best of the Nordics, fate wanted the best to win, Kylian Mbappé, who finished off an excellent cross from Griezmann to send France to the round of 16 of the World Cup. A victory to remember, a cruel fate for Denmark and a team, the French, presenting their bid for the title in Qatar.