Mbappé eyes ‘special’ Iraq match, says France more offensive than past World Cup squads
Key takeaways
- Issued on: 22/06/2026 - 08:01Modified: 22/06/2026 - 08:05
- By: FRANCE 24 Kylian Mbappé became France's all-time record scorer after hitting a brace against Senegal in their World Cup opener.
- “I asked if we could play three goalkeepers,” quipped the veteran coach. “But they said no.”
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
France captain Kylian Mbappé said Les Bleus’ abundance of talent up front gives them a more offensive edge than at the past two World Cups as they aim to book a place in the knockout stage on Monday with victory over Iraq – in a game that will see the Real Madrid striker win his 100th international cap.
Issued on: 22/06/2026 - 08:01Modified: 22/06/2026 - 08:05
By: FRANCE 24 Kylian Mbappé became France's all-time record scorer after hitting a brace against Senegal in their World Cup opener. © Dylan Martinez, Reuters When quizzed about how he planned to stop France’s formidable attacking armada in their Group I match on Monday, Iraq coach Graham Arnold came up with an idea that just might have worked.