France is the First to Qualify for the Last 16

France 2-1 Denmark

A brace from Kylian Mbappé stamps France’s ticket into the Round of 16 today at Stadium 974 in Ras Abu Aboud, Qatar.

The first half was not too eventful as both teams played each other as equals so most of the play was in the middle of the field. After an hour of play, the goals started coming in.

Mbappé scored first in the 61^st minute after a 5-yard back pass from Theo Hernandez allowed Mbappé to tap the ball off the ground, between two defenders, and into the right side of the goal all from right around the six.

Denmark responded just seven minutes later when a cross came bouncing up and onto the head of Andreas Christensen, who put it just left of Hugo Lloris’ head.

Mbappé would get his brace and qualifying goal in the 86^th minute after a perfect cross from Antoine Griezmann finds the thigh of Mbappé and bounces into the goal from just inches away.

Reigning champs France are the only team to qualify for the Round of 16 so far.

The rest of today’s match results:

Australia 1-0 Tunisia

Australia moves from fourth to second with their win over Tunisia earlier today at the Al Janoub stadium in Al-Wakrah, Qatar.

Australia got their winning goal early in the 23^rd minute. A deflected cross continues to bounce towards Mitchell Duke, who, with a glancing header, hits it up and over the keeper and then down into the bottom right side netting.

Tunisia would have three more good chances, all of which were shots inside the box. However, none of them were on target.

Poland 2-0 Saudi Arabia

Robert Lewandowski scores his first goal at a World Cup in Poland’s 2-0 win at the Education City Stadium in Al-Rayyan, Qatar.

Poland’s first goal came in the 39^th minute when a pass back into the box left Piotr Zieliński unmarked and able to fire it up the middle and into the roof of the net from right outside the six.

The Saudis had ample opportunities to respond, including a penalty in first-half stoppage time. Mohammad Alburayk ended up taking a weak penalty to the left, which Wojciech Szczęsny was able to save.

In the 82^nd minute, Abdulelah Almalki would lose control of a pass right outside of his own box, which Lewandowski could take away with ease. This left Lewandowski alone with the keeper and he simply passed it around the keeper and into the net for his first World Cup goal.

Argentina 2-0 Mexico

Argentina escapes last place in Group C as a result of their win against Mexico at the Lusail stadium in Lusail, Qatar. In the first 45 minutes, Mexico was playing better, despite possession stats, and looked like they would be the ones to score first.

It wasn’t until the 64^th minute that Argentina would break through. Angel Di Maria passed the ball to Lionel Messi in the center of the field, just 25 yards out. Messi would then strike the ball on his favored left foot through a couple of defenders, just past the fingertips of Guillermo Ochoa, and into the right side netting to give La Albiceleste the lead.

In the 87^th minute, Messi would pass the ball to Enzo Fernández, who does a scissors move around the defender. Then, with a wide-open path to the goal, curls the ball to the opposite side of the goal into the right upper corner.

Here are what Groups C and D look like after matchday 2.

Group C

1. Poland 4pts
2. Argentina 3pts
3. Saudi Arabia 3pts
4. Mexico 1pts

Group D

1. France 6pts *Qualified for R16
2. Australia 3pts
3. Denmark 1pts
4. Tunisia 1pts

Photo: Kylian Mbappé – Shutterstock – user: A. Taoualit – ID: 2205320015