World Cup 2026: Mbappé and Barcola lead France to comeback win over Senegal

France began their 2026 World Cup campaign with a hard-fought 3-1 victory over Senegal in New York, a result that masked a sluggish performance for much of the match. Despite fielding a strong attacking lineup, including Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, and Michael Olise, the French team appeared disjointed and lacked creativity in the first half. They registered only one shot on target and a mere 0.02 expected goals, a statistic described as "lénifiante" (comforting in a misleading way) by Le Figaro.

Senegal, conversely, showed more promise, hitting the post and creating other significant chances. The first half was characterized by "lenteur, sans idée, du déchet à foison et des connexions invisibles" (slowness, lack of ideas, abundant waste, and invisible connections), leading to a feeling that the team was playing together for the first time. The performance was deemed "indigne d’un prétendant au titre" (unworthy of a title contender).

The tide turned in the second half, largely due to the influence of Michael Olise. The Bayern Munich winger injected pace and vision into the French attack, creating the opening goal for Mbappé in the 66th minute. Mbappé's goal not only put France ahead but also saw him equal Olivier Giroud's record of 57 international goals. Bradley Barcola extended the lead later in the match. Although Senegal managed to pull one back in stoppage time after a goalkeeping error, Mbappé quickly restored the two-goal advantage with a long-range effort, securing the crucial three points. France's next match is against Iraq.