On a sweltering, humid night in Pennsylvania marked by thunder and heavy rain, France faced Iraq in a match that was interrupted for over two hours due to severe thunderstorms. Despite the challenging conditions, France showcased their prowess, furthering Kylian Mbappé’s ongoing battle with Lionel Messi as they secured a decisive victory.
The French captain netted two goals, the first a powerful strike from outside the box following sustained pressure, and the second a simple tap-in after a defensive blunder by Iraq. Ousmane Dembélé also contributed to the scoreline with his first major tournament goal. Coach Didier Deschamps, having already rotated his squad, managed to take Dembélé and Michael Olise off the field in the 60th minute to keep them fresh for upcoming matches.
France opened the scoring in their familiar style, giving the ball to Mbappé and allowing him to work his magic. This breakthrough came after 10 minutes of relentless pressure on the Iraqi goal, with defenders scrambling as they struggled to cope. Iraq’s inability to advance their defensive line beyond the six-yard box compounded their problems, particularly as Mbappé drifted toward the 18-yard area.
Following a build-up on the right side led by Jules Koundé, Olise provided the assist with a straightforward pass to Mbappé. The French star then unleashed a fierce left-footed shot across goal. Although Iraqi goalkeeper Ahmed Basil got a fingertip to the ball, it was insufficient to prevent the goal.
Describing the goal as inevitable would be an understatement, as France’s fluid passing was mesmerizing. Iraq managed to reach the hydration break without conceding further, aided by a substitution that saw Ali al-Hamadi take the place of the injured captain Aymen Hussein. Upon resuming play, al-Hamadi connected with a cross from Merchas Doski, but his header went wide.
With just 10 minutes left in the first half, the anticipated inclement weather arrived. Philadelphia Stadium, largely uncovered, prompted a rush for rain gear among spectators. As halftime approached, the stadium announcers advised fans to seek shelter indoors, and shortly thereafter, a delay was confirmed.
Unbeknownst to those in attendance, this was only the beginning. A heavy storm swept over the stadium, and it took over an hour and a half before indications of a potential restart emerged. Coaching staff began setting up training cones on the pitch, preparing for the players’ warm-up.
Play resumed two hours and 11 minutes after the initial stoppage, with the atmosphere still celebratory, particularly among Iraqi fans. The news of no hydration break for the second half due to the delay seemed to excite the crowd. However, the chants of “Iraq, Iraq, Iraq” quickly faded as France capitalized on a defensive error to extend their lead.
That mistake was on Zaid Tahseen, who mishit a goal-kick intended for his keeper. Basil managed to get a toe to the ball, but it fell directly to the advancing Dembélé, who promptly passed to Mbappé for an easy finish. This marked Mbappé’s fourth goal of the tournament, putting him just one behind Messi in the race for the Golden Boot and two shy of overtaking him as the highest scorer in World Cup history.
In an instant, the game was effectively over, and this turn of events was undoubtedly frustrating for Iraq and their loyal supporters. However, the silver lining for fans was witnessing France play with newfound freedom. Within minutes, Olise delicately lobbed a shot that struck the Iraqi crossbar, and Dembélé’s excellent effort across goal was saved by Basil.
In the 66th minute, Olise and Dembélé combined for the third goal, with Olise spinning past two defenders before slipping the ball to Dembélé, who scored with a low shot across goal. At this point, Deschamps opted to substitute both players, bringing on Desiré Doué and Rayan Cherki. Mbappé remained on the pitch, continuing to press for more goals and even disrupting a counterattack, much to the delight of the French fans. He finally exited the match in added time to a warm ovation from the crowd.
