KEIR RADNEDGE in DOHA —- France, in the manner of reigning world champions, are the first team safely into the knockout stage of the 2022 World Cup finals. Kylian Mbappe, in the manner of the superstar he is, scored the fine goals which disposed of Denmark.

Four years ago, on their way to glory, Les Bleus were held goalless in a drab group match by Denmark. This time it was different. Two class teams jousted entertainingly for position on the pitch in Stadium 974 and Group D. France were the deserved winners while Denmark are teetering on the brink of elimination.

If French coach Didier Deschamps believes in omens he will have enjoyed the occasion. France have won the World Cup twice. Each time they played Denmark along the way. Deshamps was World Cup-winning captain in 1998 then World Cup-winning coach in 2018.

The first hald saw France quicksilver in attack with Ousmane Dembele a dancing danger on the right wing, Mbappe lurked threateningly on the left and Antoine Griezmann floating into so much space in midfield. But their individual talents never quite added up to a round number.

Danish goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel leaped smartly to his right to punch away an Adrien Rabiot drive and Mbappe fired high over the bar after Jules Kounde and Dembele had punched through on the right.

Frustration spurred France to raise the tempo to profitable effect after the interval.

First Mbappe accelerated forward and unleashed a rocket which Schmeichel found too hot to handle but managed to push wide for a corner. Mbappe was not to denied. In the 61^st minute he exchanged delicate high-speed return passes with Theo Hernandez and shot across the goalkeeper and inside the far post.

Defiant Danes

Denmark, to their enormous credit, hit back immediately. Joachim Andersen glanced on a right-wing corner and Andreas Christensen ignored a flying defensive boot to head past Hugo Lloris.

The Danes now played their best football of the night and might even have taken the lead. Lloris made a superb, reflex point-blank save from Jesper Lindstrom before fellow Danish substitute Martin Braithwaite clipped the outside of a post.

Such profligacy against France in a World Cup mood is fatal.

Due punishment arrived in the 83^rd minute. Newly-arrived French substitute Kingsley Coman created havoc on the right to create time and space for Griezmann to arrow his cross to the far post where Mbappe pounce.

Goal, group and match.

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