Mbappe double sees France brush aside Iraq and a two-hour storm to reach the knockouts

Not even a Pennsylvania thunderstorm could slow France down. On a hot, humid and waterlogged night in Philadelphia, Didier Deschamps' side eased past Iraq 3-0 to book their place in the knockout rounds, with France barely breaking stride despite an interruption of more than two hours when severe weather forced players from the pitch.

Kylian Mbappe was the difference, as he so often is. The captain opened the scoring in the 14th minute with a rip-snorter from outside the box after a sustained spell of pressure, then added a second just before the hour, a simple finish handed to him by some disastrous Iraqi defending. By the time he was withdrawn, France were cruising.

The night also brought a milestone for Ousmane Dembele, who steered home the third in the 66th minute for his first goal at a major tournament. With the result secure, Deschamps was able to take off both Dembele and Michael Olise on the hour, sparing two of his most important attackers for the sterner tests to come.

It was a statement of control from one of the tournament favourites. France had already shown their attacking depth in the group stage, and the manner of this win, weathering a lengthy stoppage and a physical Iraq side without ever looking troubled, will only deepen the belief that this squad is built to go a long way at this World Cup.

The win, secured despite a thunderstorm that suspended play for more than two hours, underlined the depth and composure of a France side many fancy to go all the way. Deschamps was able to rotate and rest key men with the game won, a luxury that speaks to both the quality of his squad and the control they exerted once Mbappe set them on their way.

For Iraq, the lesson was the unforgiving gap between organisation and genuine elite quality. They competed physically and stayed in the contest for spells, but once France found their rhythm the difference told, and a side with the attacking riches of the French was always likely to punish them eventually.

France move on with maximum points and a statement made. The knockout rounds will pose sterner questions, but on this evidence they have the firepower and the temperament to answer them.

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