The World Cup favorites, France, began their warm-up with a shaky first-half display but soon found their rhythm in the second half. The match showcased a blend of physical prowess and technical finesse that few teams could rival. Kylian Mbappé’s goals, which not only equaled but surpassed a record, coupled with exceptional playmaking from Michael Olise, ensured a successful outing for Les Bleus.
After Mbappé expertly finished an Olise pass shortly after the hour mark, the game shifted from a tightly contested battle to a dominant display by France.
In the final ten minutes, substitute Bradley Barcola increased the lead, and despite a brief resurgence from Senegal during added time, Mbappé’s second goal marked his 58th for France, making him the country’s all-time leading goalscorer, surpassing Olivier Giroud.
With many New York Knicks players present at MetLife Stadium, an electric atmosphere surrounded the match prior to kickoff.
France created the clearest opportunities in the opening 25 minutes. Ousmane Dembélé nearly connected with Mbappé in the box during the 11th minute, but the captain struggled to control the ball. Kalidou Koulibaly’s risky chest control in the 14th minute almost led to a turnover, yet goalkeeper Édouard Mendy remained unscathed. In the 24th minute, Dembélé almost capitalized on a mistake by Mendy at the edge of the box.
After weathering a rough start, Senegal began to find their footing, generating their first real chance in the 25th minute.
El Hadji Malick Diouf executed a sliding tackle to regain possession, quickly releasing Nicolas Jackson down the left flank. Jackson charged into the penalty area, and although his shot struck the inside of the near post, a fortunate Maignan saw it deflect wide off his heel.
Following a hydration break, Senegal appeared more cohesive and dangerous on counter-attacks. Just before halftime, they nearly took the lead; Sadio Mané infiltrated the French box, passing to Ismaïla Sarr, whose poor shot sailed over the goal.
France struggled to establish a coherent attacking strategy and lacked intensity in the first half. However, they returned after halftime with renewed vigor. Desiré Doué took the first shot moments after the restart, bending it around the post. Five minutes later, he initiated a break that nearly fed Mbappé, but a defender intercepted the pass.
Olise then had a chance, breaking through the midfield but was thwarted by a crucial save from Mendy. Four minutes later, Olise set up Mbappé, but again Mendy made an important intervention.
By the time the hour mark approached, France had taken control, and it felt as though a goal was imminent. When Mbappé drove down the right flank, he drew a sliding challenge from Mané inside the box. Referee Alireza Faghani awarded a corner, despite video replays suggesting a foul. After reviewing the footage, Faghani chose to maintain his original decision, surprising many in attendance.
Despite the contentious decision, the match’s momentum remained with France as Olise and Mbappé continued to shine. Olise quickly advanced through the midfield, delivering a precise pass that Mbappé narrowly missed reaching. Yet, when Olise found himself 30 yards out, he executed a brilliant pass cutting across the field. Mbappé, racing from the left, intercepted the ball, turned, and slotted a first-time shot into the net effortlessly.
Jackson had a couple of chances for Senegal following the opening goal and hit one effort into the top corner, only to be flagged offside. The sense of inevitability about the match’s outcome grew stronger as Les Bleus maintained a level of play that their opponents could not match.
Dembélé was replaced by Barcola, who soon eliminated any doubt, running onto a diagonal pass from Adrien Rabiot who had exploited gaps in the midfield, calmly chipping the ball past Mendy.
Although the outcome seemed decided, added time brought more excitement. Substitute Ibrahim Mbaye unleashed a shot that Maignan was unable to stop. In response, Mbappé fired a powerful shot from distance, which Mendy could have handled better. One down, seven more to go.
