Soccer: FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022-France at Denmark Nov 26, 2022; Doha, Qatar; France celebrate after a group stage match against Denmark during the 2022 World Cup at Stadium 974. Mandatory Credit: Danielle Parhizkaran-USA TODAY Sports

With France beating Denmark 2-1, they have become the first team in the 2022 FIFA World Cup to clinch a spot in the round of 16.

Les Bleus started unable to break down the Danish defense, with the only clear chance coming from a quick ball to Kylian Mbappe, quickly snuffed out controversially by Danish defender Andreas Christensen.

The controversy stemmed from Mbappe being denied a clear goal-scoring opportunity which usually results in a red card for the guilty defender. However, Anderson only received a yellow card.

Fifteen minutes into the second half and Mbappe passes a ball into the back of the net, taking the lead and with it being the first team from the group stage to secure a berth in the round of 16.

But Denmark would bring the score to 1-1 with the goal coming off Andreas Christensen’s head just seven minutes after Mbappe scored the opener.

In what would have been a heavy favorite for the goal of the tournament, French defensive midfielder Adrien Rabiot made great contact on an overhead kick but sent the ball well over the crossbar.

Less than ten minutes later, Antoine Griezmann whips a ball in from out of the box to find an airborne Mbappe, who nudged the ball with his thigh past Danish keeper Kasper Schmeichel.

The score would hold, sending the defending FIFA World Cup champions to the round of 16.

France will play Tunisia Wednesday (10 am ET) at Education City Stadium. Denmark will play Australia Wednesday (10 am ET) at Al Janoub Stadium.

About Mike Gawdzik

A fan of the Red Devils and White Sox, Mike Gawdzik is a high school English teacher by day and a writer by night. He tries to write what he knows, like when he was a drag queen for a day or when he competed in an amateur boxing tournament in South Korea. When reading student essays isn’t enough for him, he’s also the creative nonfiction editor for Flying Island and Sport Literate.