Kylian Mbappe Scores In World Cup Qualifying, Ties Thierry Henry Report

Kylian Mbappe was again in World Cup motion on Friday, scored once more and this time France received.

France beat Ukraine 2-0 to open their qualifying group for the 2026 World Cup. It was Les Bleus’ and Mbappé’s first sport within the competitors since his hat trick in that epic loss to Lionel Messi and Argentina within the 2022 remaining once they had been defending champions.

Mbappé used tempo and talent to elude Ukraine defender Illia Zabarnyi within the 82nd minute to increase a lead earned within the tenth by Michael Olise. Together with his 51st objective for France, now tied with soccer legend Thierry Henry for second on France’s all-time scoring record.

(Photograph by Mateusz Slodkowski/Getty Pictures)

Mbappé has by no means performed at a World Cup that Italy certified for, and the four-time champion received an important 5-0 dwelling win over Estonia searching for to finish its absence from the largest stage since 2014.

Italy averted shedding extra floor to group chief Norway, which didn’t play on Friday, although it took till a twentieth objective try and 58 minutes to interrupt the impasse by means of a Moise Kean header. In the identical group, Israel received at Moldova 4-0.

Switzerland and Greece received off to quick begins to their qualifying campaigns, racing to four-goal leads at halftime.

Switzerland ended as a 4-0 winner over Kosovo and Greece beat Belarus 5-1 after 17-year-old Kostas Karetsas took lower than three minutes to attain in his World Cup qualifying debut.

Sweden was twice pegged again in a 2-2 draw at Slovenia — which leveled for the second time within the ninetieth — whereas leaving Liverpool’s report new signing Aleksander Isak on the bench after his delayed begin to the season.

2026 FIFA WORLD CUP: WHO HAS QUALIFIED? WHO CAN MAKE IT?

Croatia, a crushed finalist and semifinalist on the previous two World Cups, received on the Faeroe Islands by simply 1-0 for a 3rd straight win. The group-leading Czech Republic received at Montenegro 2-0.

In France’s group, Iceland received at dwelling to Azerbaijan 5-0.

Denmark was held to 0-0 at dwelling by Scotland within the group that Greece now leads.

Reporting by The Related Press.

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