France through to knockout stage, Peru crashes out

France: 1 (Mbappe 34’)
Peru: 0

By Jordan Mulach

In a game where the end result seemed inevitable, the match was unpredictable right up until the death with France having to fight to earn their way into the round-of-16 while Peru will be on its way home at the end of the group stage.

C'est terminé ! Viiiiictoire de l'Equipe de France !!!! @KMbappe est le buteur ce soir ! #FRAPER #FRA #FiersdetreBleus pic.twitter.com/5Ju950T3nb

— Equipe de France (@equipedefrance) June 21, 2018

France entered the match as the red-hot favourites while Peru, in looking for their first World Cup win in 40 years, were playing for their lives at Russia 2018.

The opening 15 minutes saw France spend a fair chunk of their time in the opposition’s half, having a few shots on goal which were blocked by Peru keeper Pedro Gallese.

The flow of the match was occasionally broken up with fouls with the first card of the game coming for France’s Blaise Matuidi.

Peru started to fight back, calling France keeper Hugo Lloris into action with a number of saves in the box.

And the South Americans’ desperation was evident in the yellow card given to captain, Paulo Guerrero, after a clash with French defender Samuel Umtiti.

France’s Kylian Mbappe made history by becoming the youngest player to score a World Cup goal for Les Bleus, when the 19-year-old was on-hand to tap the ball into an empty net after Oliver Giroud’s deflected shot stranded Peru’s keeper.

France went to the break leading 1-0 and its dominance was reflected in the four shots on goal to Peru’s one.

Pedro Aquino nearly scored Peru’s first goal of the tournament when he thumped a first-time shot from 10 metres outside the box that had Lloris beaten but crashed against the right-hand upright.

Peru continued to threaten France’s goal when Guido Carrillo shot just over the crossbar and, minutes later, Luis Advincula did the same.

Peru’s final chance came in the 86^th minute after a Paul Pogba foul on the edge of the area saw him receive yellow card. But Aquino’s free kick was easily dealt with by Lloris.

The loss for Peru means it has no chance of making it through to the knockout rounds, while France is two-from-two and guaranteed a place in the round-of-16.

Match Statistics

Shots
France: 12 (4 on target)
Peru: 10 (2 on target)

Possession
France: 43%
Peru: 57%

Fouls
France: 11
Peru: 15

Yellow Cards
France: 2
Peru: 2

Team Line-ups

France: 1 Lloris, 2 Pavard, 4 Varane, 5 Umtiti, 21 Hernandez, 13 Kante, 6 Pogba, 10 Mbappe (34’), 7 Griezmann, 14 Matuidi, 9 Giroud
Substitutes: 18 Fekir, 11 Dembele, 15 Nzonzi

Peru: 1 Gallese, 17 Advincula, 15 Ramos, 2 Rodriguez, 6 Trauco, 23 Aquino, 19 Yotun, 18 Carillo, 8 Cueva, 20 Flores, 9 Guerrero
Substitutes: 4 Santamaria, 10 Farfan, 11 Ruidiaz