France shake loose after halftime and leave MetLife with a 3-1 opener.

The first half was awkward. The second half finally sounded like France.

France did not stroll through the opener. Senegal had the better early chances, including Nicolas Jackson hitting the post and Ismaila Sarr missing a big look before halftime. That made the 0-0 interval feel properly uncomfortable, and it forced France to find cleaner routes through the middle after the break.

The switch was obvious once Michael Olise began getting touches in more central areas. France stopped looking like a side waiting for one flash and started moving Senegal's back line around. Mbappe's 66th-minute goal changed the whole feeling of the night, because it turned a tense opener into a match France could finally manage.

Mbappe gave France the last word

Barcola's finish in the 82nd minute looked like the settling goal, but Senegal still made the end noisy when Mbiaye scored in stoppage time. France did not let that little rush turn into panic. Mbappe answered almost immediately with a long-range strike in the sixth minute of added time, and the scoreboard finally matched the second-half control.

For France, the result matters more than the polish. Three points are banked, the first night is no longer a question, and the group can move toward Iraq without the table already feeling tight. The warning is just as clear: against sharper finishing, that first half could have become a much bigger problem.

What matters next

France now turn to Iraq on June 22 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. A second win would put the group on a much calmer track before Norway in Foxborough, while any dropped points there would drag this opener's rough first half back into the conversation.

For the full fixture route, keep the France schedule page open with the France team hub and France squad page.