France Edge Brazil 2-1 As Mbappe And Ekitike Fire In World Cup Clash

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France moved closer to the World Cup knockout stages with a 2-1 win over Brazil, despite playing with 10 players for more than 40 minutes, as Kylian Mbappe and Hugo Ekitike scored to secure victory in their Group I clash in Foxborough.

The result leaves Didier Deschamps' team well placed before the final Group I match against Norway in Foxborough on June 26, with France also using the clash as preparation for facing Colombia on Sunday, when Mbappe will again chase Olivier Giroud's national scoring record.

Mbappe’s first-half chip over Ederson gave France control and moved the forward to 56 goals for France, placing Mbappe just one behind Olivier Giroud’s all-time Bleus record of 57, and the Paris-born attacker was heavily involved throughout the match in New England.

The forward led all France players for shots with three attempts, all from inside the penalty area, while Mbappe also posted 0.64 expected goals, nine touches in the box, one created chance, and two successful dribbles, only trailing Michael Olise, who completed three dribbles for France.

Both coaches named strong starting lineups, which produced a sharp opening spell, though clear chances were rare at first, with Raphinha volleying over from the edge of the area before Mbappe opened the scoring with France’s first shot on target in the 32nd minute.

Mbappe struck after running onto Ousmane Dembele’s through-ball on the right side of the box, lifting a delicate finish over Ederson, before sending two further efforts off target before half-time as Brazil struggled to turn possession into serious problems for Mike Maignan.

Brazil improved after the interval, helped by substitute Luiz Henrique, who forced Maignan into action, and the match swung further towards Carlo Ancelotti’s side when referee upgraded Dayot Upamecano’s 55th-minute yellow card to red, following a VAR review of the defender’s last-player foul on Wesley just outside the penalty area.

France responded impressively to the setback, reorganising quickly and striking again 10 minutes later when Olise threaded a precise pass into Ekitike, who copied Mbappe’s earlier effort by chipping Ederson with confidence from inside the area to give Deschamps’ side a 2-0 lead.

Brazil halved the deficit through Juventus defender Bremer, who scored a first international goal after a crowded goalmouth scramble, and Bremer later spurned another good chance, while Vinicius Junior slid wide in stoppage time with a major opportunity to equalise from close range.

Brazil finished with better attacking numbers, winning the expected-goals battle 2.24 to 1.29 and outshooting France 17-7, but Ancelotti’s side hit the target with only four efforts, while Vinicius had two shots worth a combined 0.64 xG yet failed to register a single attempt on goal.

Mbappe’s efforts left Real Madrid team-mate Vinicius frustrated, as France showed resilience with 10 players and maintained control of Group I, while Brazil’s wastefulness in key moments and limited accuracy in front of goal raised questions ahead of the next World Cup fixtures.