Mbappe double sends France into knockout rounds after lengthy weather delay

Kylian Mbappe's brace, coupled with a goal from Ousmane Dembele, propelled France into the World Cup knockout stages with a 3-0 victory over Iraq on Monday. The match, however, was significantly disrupted by a lengthy weather delay, with thunderstorms causing a nearly two-hour stoppage in the second half.

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The first half was good. In the second half, we picked up where we left off, bearing in mind that it wasn’t easy given what happened, and we managed to put the game beyond reach. That’s a very good thing.

Mbappe's first goal came in the 14th minute, and his second in the 54th was a gift from the Iraqi defense following a poor goalkick. Dembele sealed the win in the 66th minute. France manager Didier Deschamps praised his team's performance, noting it was difficult to maintain momentum after the weather interruption.

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You have one moment of excellence from one of the best players in the world. And then we have to go inside and wait for an hour and a half. You know, it’s really difficult to come out and keep the same intensity against these great players. And in the end I think we made too many mistakes again.

With this win, France secured their spot in the last 32. Mbappe's goals brought his World Cup tally to 16, equaling Miroslav Klose's record. Meanwhile, Iraq's chances of advancing are slim, likely requiring a win against Senegal and favorable outcomes elsewhere. They may also be without Aymen Hussein, who sustained an injury.

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There’s no issue. Ousmane is confident in himself. He can sometimes get people talking, but I have complete faith in him. He’s still finding his bearings because his role is different from the one he has at his club.