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OLIVER HOLT AT BOSTON STADIUM: In the end‚ this was about neither Erling Haaland‚ nor Kylian Mbappe. It was about a game played with the kind of glorious abandon that is very much at odds with the usual constraints of tournament football‚ a match that rained with goals and excitement‚ a 4-1 victory for France that was often dazzling and which underlined their status as World Cup favourites. And it was about Ousmane Dembele‚ the Ballon d'Or winner. Until now‚ he had existed in this World Cup largely as a foil for Mbappe‚ unselfishly laying on his captain's second goal in the defeat of Iraq in Philadelphia at the start of the week.
OLIVER HOLT: I watched Scotland's defeat by Brazil on Wednesday evening in a bar in rural New Hampshire. One of the other customers saw me staring up at the screen and wanted to know all about the France-Norway game at Boston Stadium‚ home of his beloved New England Patriots‚ tonight. 'Who's that amazing guy that plays for France?' he asked‚ apologising for his lack of knowledge. I told him that could mean one of quite a few players but that he was probably thinking of Kylian Mbappe. 'That's the one‚' he said. 'He's the boss hog.' It is the first time I have heard Mbappe called that but maybe it's not the worst description. I was in Philadelphia on Monday evening to see France dismantle Iraq and Mbappe was so sharp and eager‚ so demanding and ambitious that his performance was breathtaking.
Norway's players performed an incredible Viking Row with fans to celebrate reaching the World Cup knockout stages for the first time in 28 years after defeating Senegal 3-2 in New York on Tuesday. After Marcus Holmgren Pedersen fired Norway ahead in the first half‚ Erling Haaland steered his side to victory with two crucial goals in the second‚ as Senegal twice clawed a goal back through Crystal Palace winger Ismaila Sarr. The victory meant Norway‚ who defeated Iraq 4-1 in their first match‚ successfully qualified for the knockout stages for the first time since 1998‚ and the players were determined to celebrate in style.
FRANCE 3-0 IRAQ - OLIVER HOLT IN PHILADELPHIA: France cemented their status as World Cup favourites with a dazzling 3-0 win over Iraq in Philadelphia in a match suspended for two hours because of storms in Philadelphia and decorated by two more goals from Kylian Mbappe. Mbappe's brace moved him past Gerd Muller and Ronaldo in the list of the top all-time scorers in World Cups. The France captain is now level with Miroslav Klose on 16. Only Lionel Messi‚ who now has 18 goals‚ is ahead of Mbappe. Mbappe scored the first in the 14th minute‚ collecting the ball on the edge of the area and hammering a rising drive through the legs of an opponent. Iraq goalkeeper Ahmed Basila got his fingertips to it but could not keep it out.
Follow Daily Mail Sport's live coverage for the latest updates as France take on Iraq in Group I at the Philadelphia Stadium.
KIERAN GILL: Norway opened their first World Cup in 28 years by beating Iraq in an Erling Haaland-inspired win. The Manchester City striker scored twice before half-time in Foxborough‚ near Boston. His first was the result of a flowing team move‚ while his second was down to his determination in chasing down a weak back pass from Zaid Tahseen and some dawdling by Iraq goalkeeper Jalal Hassen. Five of Norway's starting XI weren't even born the last time they competed on the world stage in 1998 - including Haaland and Martin Odegaard - and so some nerves were understandable.
The full 48-team line-up for this summer's FIFA World Cup was officially confirmed on Tuesday as the final six nations at the finals through play-off ties. DR Congo and Iraq were the last two teams to book their place in the 2026 edition of the tournament‚ set to be staged in the United States‚ Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19. The final four European spots were also confirmed on Tuesday‚ with Turkey‚ Sweden‚ the Czech Republic and Bosnia-Herzegovina qualifying at the expense of Kosovo‚ Poland‚ Denmark and Italy.
The final six nations of the bonanza 48-team World Cup was confirmed on Tuesday night‚ with the group stages now set for the summer tournament. DR Congo and Iraq were the last two teams to book their place in the 2026 edition of the tournament‚ set to be staged in the United States‚ Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19.
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