Two-time world champions France started the match with intensity, and superstar Kylian Mbappe quieted the raucous Iraqi crowd in the 14th minute with a arrowed left-footed strike into the far corner from the edge of the penalty area with an assist from Oliseh.
France wasn’t able to do much after the goal and the Iraqi side were able to enjoy the game for a while, but not until France emerged from the extended break with renewed conviction and just nine minutes into the second half, France was gifted a second goal – Iraq keeper Ahmed Basil failed to control a short goal-kick taken by defender Zaid Tahseen and Ousmane Dembele teed up Mbappe for a simple finish.
The French team had some more chances to extend their lead – Adrien Rabiot missed a clear header and Michael Olise hit the crossbar with an audacious dink – before Oliseh’s brilliant outside-of-the-foot pass set up Dembele, who scored their third with a strike into the bottom corner. It was Dembele’s first for France at a major tournament in his 20th appearance.
Mbappe looked set to complete his hat-trick, but he lashed a left-footed effort high and wide. France, who are bidding to reach a third successive World Cup final, are top of Group I with six points while Iraq are bottom with zero.
