France 3-0 Iraq: Kylian Mbappe shines as Les Bleus cruise to victory despite two-hour weather delay | OneFootball

Real Madrid gunman keeps pace with Lionel Messi in race to top World Cup scoring charts

Kylian Mbappe hit a brace as France cruised to victory over Iraq in spite of a two-hour weather delay.

Such delays had been mooted since North America was first handed the rights to host this tournament, but this was the first of its kind at this summer’s World Cup and ultimately dragged on for two hours.

Fans are sent to shelter in place as thunderstorms battered Philadelphia

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Groundsmen clear standing water from the Philadelphia Stadium pitch after the weather delay

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A scrappy second half was promised when the teams re-emerged for their prescribed 15 minutes of warm-ups on a pitch which many Sunday league referees would have deemed unplayable. Both sets of players were wet through within minutes as the torrential downpour continued and groundsmen set about pushing standing water into the dugouts.

The atmosphere in the stands, meanwhile, took on something of a party atmosphere as the Philadelphia Stadium DJ worked through their greatest hits, keeping spirits high despite the driving rain.

The pace of play following the long-awaited restart did not quite match that vibe. The play was tentative as either side looked to feel out the deteriorating conditions, but it did not take long for Mbappe to find the back of the net.

Fadhil misread a flat pass from one of his defenders and gifted the ball to Ousmane Dembele, unmarked in the box, who squared for his striker to lash home one of the easiest goals of his career.

Kylian Mbappe was in fine form against Iraq but will be disappointed not to have claimed a hat-trick

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A two-goal advantage became three shortly thereafter, as Dembele got his own name on the scoresheet with a driving effort across the face of goal.

You had to pity the Iraqi contingent as they stared down the barrel of elimination from the World Cup and looked up to see Desire Doue and Rayan Cherki readying themselves to come on.

The pair would come up with no further goals, though, as France cruised through to a commanding victory.

Mbappe’s brace, which could have been a hat trick had he buried one of three late chances, sees him level Miroslav Klose’s tally of 16 at World Cup finals, and takes him within two of the new record holder, Lionel Messi. The Argentine’s brace against Austria earlier on Monday saw him pull well clear in the charts.