Get daily World Cup briefings from our writers across North America – plus more from Inside Sport after the tournamentGet our free World Cup briefing and sport emailGet our free World Cup briefing and sport emailOne of the main storylines of the World Cup so far has been the world’s biggest stars delivering on the greatest stage of all. Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and now Erling Haaland have all scored two or more goals in both of their first two matches this summer, with Harry Kane hoping to join them when England face Ghana on Tuesday night. It’s a fitting start to sport’s grandest event, with four of the world’s best delivering the type of performances that fans had hoped for before the tournament started. Ousmane Dembele and Kylian Mbappe (2) got the goals as France secured a 3-0 win over Iraq (Reuters)But while the biggest names continue to grab the headlines with their goalscoring exploits as the tournament begins, several players are more subtly going about their business, and none more so than Ousmane Dembele and Michael Olise. France’s 3-0 win over Iraq looks like an expected result against a markedly weaker side given the quality in Didier Deschamps’ squad, and while Les Bleus probably should have scored more goals, it was a professional display in a match where the second half was delayed for two hours due to thunderstorms. Such a delay could throw any team off their rhythm, but France returned to the pitch at the Philadelphia Stadium with even more attacking intent and the necessary verve and invention to back it up.Mbappe, who scored a brace but could have had four, grabbed the headlines once again in a superb display, but both Dembele and Olise – who started in the middle and on the right respectively – were dangerous throughout, with both producing moments to showcase their own brilliance. Olise hit the woodwork with an inventive lob that had left Ahmed Basil flailing, while Dembele forced a good save from the Iraq goalkeeper moments later and then rifled against the side-netting before the duo combined to devastating effect. Dembele’s goal illustrated the role that both himself and Olise will have to play in France’s success this summer (Getty)For the third goal, Olise slid an inch-perfect pass into the area that allowed Dembele to take a clever touch before rifling low into the far corner. It was a great example of their ability to produce slick, devastating moves and moments of real quality in an instant, as well…
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2026-06-23 10:10:59
