In the UEFA European Qualifiers Group D, Kylian Mbappé delivered an outstanding performance, scoring a goal and providing an assist, as France came from behind to beat Iceland.
With this goal, his tally for the national team has now reached 52, surpassing Thierry Henry’s record.
In the World Cup qualifying match, France faced Iceland at home. In the 21st minute, French winger Michael Olise made a fatal mistake, unintentionally assisting Gudjohnsen to score the opener. Just before halftime, Mbappé equalised for France with a penalty.
Mbappé Inspires the Comeback
Early in the second half, Mbappé provided an assist for Barcola to put France ahead. However, the match turned tense when Aurélien Tchouaméni was sent off with a red card for a reckless tackle.
Gudjohnsen later thought he had scored the equaliser, but VAR ruled the goal out. Despite the drama, France managed to hold on and secured a 2-1 victory, successfully defending their home ground.
Throughout the match, France dominated possession with 63% and registered 20 shots. Although they showed strong attacking intent, the victory was far from easy. With two wins from two games, France now top Group D, three points ahead of Iceland.
Deschamps’ Post-Match Comments
After the game, France head coach Didier Deschamps reflected on the performance: “I anticipated Iceland would emphasise physical battles, and indeed, we faced a low-block defensive side. We could have scored more goals, but we paid the price for our one mistake.”
“With 10 men on the pitch, we had to work even harder. We created some chances, but against such tight defences, we needed to move the ball more quickly.”
Deschamps praised Mbappé’s continuous scoring form and highlighted his role as a true leader within the team.
Mbappé on Surpassing Henry
When asked about scoring his 52nd goal and overtaking Henry on France’s all-time scoring list, Mbappé said it was an incredible feeling, “I knew this moment would eventually come, and it feels fantastic. Henry is an outstanding player, a living legend, and to surpass him is truly special.”
“But I also know there’s still one more player to surpass (Giroud with 57 goals), so I won’t celebrate too much yet. I need to keep working.”
This clash with Iceland not only highlighted France’s resilience under challenging moments but also once again underscored Mbappé’s importance as the team’s driving force.
With the World Cup qualifiers progressing, France remains dominant in Group D, while Mbappé continues to carve out his own legendary chapter for Les Bleus.
