France v Iraq · OurXI

★ The storyline

France are up and running

France got the job done, 3–0 against Iraq in the group stage. A good day at the office for ours — exactly the start you want, and the kind of result that makes the next one feel lighter.

TalismanDeveloping

France put Iraq to the sword

France 3, Iraq 0. A clean sheet and a comfortable win in the group stage — no fuss, no scare, exactly the sort of statement that puts a marker down for the rest of the field.

Why it matters

Ours are out — France have a job to do in Group I.

Who to watch

★ Ours · Talisman

Kylian Mbappé

France

The gravity around which France's attack orbits — the man the whole tournament will be watching.

Talisman

Aymen Hussein

Iraq

The man Iraq lean on for goals in a side that finds them hard to come by.

Developing

Iraq are out at the group stage

That's that, then. Iraq are out at the group stage — the maths finally caught up. A disappointing end, but there'll be stories to tell and lessons to take from it.

Developing

France are through to the last 32

France are into the last 32. Job done in the group, and now the tournament really begins — one-and-done from here, every match a final.

Developing

France bow out

And there it ends. France fall to England, and a summer of following them is over. It stings now — but what a ride it was, and there's no shame in going out swinging.

Developing

France bow out

And there it ends. France fall to England 6–4 in the final, and a summer of following them is over. It stings now — but what a ride it was, and there's no shame in going out swinging.