France’s Mbappe sends Les Bleus into World Cup last 16 as Peru eliminated
The France men’s national football team, nicknamed Les Bleus (The Blues), has qualified for the knockout stage of the 2018 Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) World Cup in Russia following a win against Peru.
On Thursday, the French squad could overcome the Peruvian outfit 1-0 in a Group C fixture played at the Ekaterinburg Arena in Ekaterinburg.
Both teams started the opening half with great intensity. France attacked as La Blanquirroja (The White and Red) defended resolutely to reach half-time at 0-0 but its resistance was broken at last.
French professional footballer Kylian Mbappe, who plays as a forward for Paris Saint-Germain club, tapped in after a shot by teammate Olivier Giroud looped over Peru goalkeeper Pedro Gallese when it took a deflection off a defender in the 34th minute.
Even though La Blanquirroja played boldly and its best chance came five minutes into the second half when Pedro Aquinho's powerful shot hit the post, it could not change the result and was subsequently eliminated from the World Cup.
During the official 2018 FIFA World Cup draw ceremony at Kremlin State Palace in the Russian capital city of Moscow on December 1 last year, the host nation, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Uruguay were put in Group A in the preliminary round of the tournament.
The Iran men's national football team, nicknamed Team Melli, has joined Portugal’s A Selecção, Spain’s La Furia Roja and Atlas Lions of Morocco.
France is drawn in Group C, and is pitted against Australia, Peru and Denmark.
Argentina, Iceland, Croatia and Nigeria are drawn in Group D.
Group E consists of Brazil, Switzerland, Costa Rica and Serbia.
While the 2014 FIFA World Cup champion Germany, Mexico, Sweden and South Korea shape Group F, Belgium, Panama, Tunisia and England are in Group G.
Group H has Poland, Senegal, Colombia and Japan.
The 2018 FIFA World Cup will take place from June 14 to July 15. Russia opened the event against Saudi Arabia in a Group A fixture at Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium. The hosts won the match 5-0.
A total of 64 matches will be played in 12 venues located in 11 cities.
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