Kylian Mbappe poached a double as France became the first side to clinch a place in the last-16 stage at the Qatar World Cup with a 2-1 win over Denmark.
It took France until just past the hour mark to make a breakthrough, as Mbappe finished off an electrifying break.
Denmark were level seven minutes later when Andreas Christensen planted a close-range header past Hugo Lloris, and substitute Martin Braithwaite later clipped the post.
However, Mbappe was decisive when he bundled in Antoine Griezmann’s cross from the right in the 86th minute.
After beating France in Nations League games in June and September already this year, Denmark were attempting to become the first team to defeat Les Bleus three times in a calendar year. An opening draw with Tunisia made this Stadium 974 tussle a huge game for the Danes.
Olivier Giroud headed wide early on after a cross from the right by Ousmane Dembele. Mbappe was then dragged down by Christensen as he threatened to run clear onto a pass from Griezmann, with a yellow card the result. It could easily have been a red.
Kasper Schmeichel saved well from Adrien Rabiot’s header, and Mbappe skied a tremendous chance. Denmark did not register a shot until the 36th minute, with France having had 10 attempts by that time, and when it came, the effort on the break from Andreas Cornelius went well wide.
French frustration began to grow, but the breakthrough came in the 61st minute when Mbappe and Theo Hernandez combined down the left, with Hernandez cutting the ball back for the striker to finish past Schmeichel with the aid of a deflection.
If France thought the game was probably won, Denmark had other ideas and levelled when Christensen stooped to head in from a corner in the 68th minute.
Rabiot’s scissor-kick volley went just over as France pressed, and the winner came thanks to a classy ball from Griezmann that was met just in front of Schmeichel by Mbappe, who timed his run perfectly and could hardly miss.
