France won who won today’s match 3-0 against Iraq after a weather delay that stretched past two hours, and Kylian Mbappe did the damage with two goals. The result sent France into the last 32 after an evening that began at 17:00 local time and did not finish until 20:47.
Mbappe’s 100th caps the scoreline
Mbappe scored the first goal and added a second on his 100th international appearance. France were already 1-0 ahead at half-time when Canadian referee Drew Fischer stopped the match because of safety concerns.
The delay lasted more than two hours, and play did not resume until 20:00, when conditions were deemed safe enough to continue. There was no hydration break in the second half, and two minutes of additional time were played before France closed out the 3-0 win.
Deschamps and the waiting room
Didier Deschamps described the pause in blunt terms: "We played cards," he said. "No, well, we were waiting. We had slots that kept being pushed forward again." He also said, "It's a question of safety," and added, "You cannot fight against the rain and lightning."
The France boss said, "I was actually having a good time with my players and having fun," but the players still had to reset inside Philadelphia Stadium while 68,344 fans waited through the disruption. That is a different kind of test than football itself: staying sharp after almost two hours in a dressing room, then returning to finish a match already tilted 1-0.
France move into last 32
Mbappe put the finish to that test into words after the final whistle: "It was a very long evening." He added, "We spent a lot of time waiting. It's emotionally and mentally draining because we had to stay fully focused and engaged in the dressing room."
He also said, "Staying in the dressing room for an hour and a half - almost two hours - while maintaining focus is very difficult. It demands a lot. The players made a huge effort, as did the staff." France took the points, reached the last 32, and left Iraq with nothing after a night shaped as much by the delay as by the scoreline.
