Mbappé scores twice as France beats Senegal 3-1

Tournament favorite France kicked off their World Cup bid with a 3-1 win against Senegal on Tuesday evening. Star player Kylian Mbappé was instrumental, scoring twice to bring his World Cup goal tally to fourteen. This achievement makes him the all-time leading scorer for France, surpassing Olivier Giroud's previous record of 57 goals.

The first half of the match, held at the New York New Jersey Stadium, saw France struggle against Senegal's strong defense, failing to create clear chances. Senegal had opportunities to score, hitting the post and missing a close-range shot in added time. Mbappé was largely contained during this period.

In the second half, however, space opened up, allowing France's quick attackers to capitalize. Mbappé opened the scoring in the 66th minute with a skillful shot after receiving a pass from Olise. Substitute Bradley Barcola added a second goal with a delicate chip following a pass from Adrien Rabiot. Senegal pulled one back in stoppage time with a powerful shot from Ibrahim Mbaye, but Mbappé sealed the 3-1 victory with a similarly forceful strike.

Senegal's coach, Pape Thiaw, had expressed that the team would miss the support of their fans, who were unable to obtain visas for the United States. He noted their fans' role in providing encouragement during difficult moments.

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They support us and push us forward, especially in difficult moments, but this time we will not have them with us.