Mbappe dazzles as France outclass Iraq in stormy Philadelphia

France's attacking power was on full display on Monday night, as Kylian Mbappe scored twice to secure a 3-0 win against Iraq, who also lost talisman striker Aymen Hussein to injury. In a game that included a more-than two-hour delay due to thunderstorms in Philadelphia, it was Mbappe's brace that displayed the wealth of attacking flair that France possess. That now brings him within one of Lionel Messi in the race for the Golden Boot . He also sits two goals behind the all-time World Cup record of 18, also set by Messi earlier on Monday. Mbappe's double took him to 12 goals in his last 12 games for France. The Real Madrid star's first came in the 14th minute as he struck with his supposed weaker left foot from outside the box. Disaster ensued for Iraq in the 54th minute. Goalkeeper Ahmed Basil failed to control a pass from centre-back Zaid Tahseen. Ousmane Dembele pounced on the mistake and delivered a selfless pass to Mbappe, who buried the ball into the open net. It was a similar mistake to the one Iraq made in their first match against Norway, which resulted in Jalal Hassan being benched in favour of Basil. The change of goalkeeper was one of several made by boss Graham Arnold. The Australian head coach shifted to a 4-5-1 line-up, moved Zidane Iqbal into the No 10 role and dropped striker Ali Al Hamadi to the bench. Iraq's talisman striker Aymen Hussein's fitness is also in doubt after he came off in the 25th minute with an apparent injury. He was replaced by Al Hamadi, who became the focal point of Iraq's attack. His introduction sparked some creative momentum for Iraq, who remained competitive with France in possession, but they lacked few outlets to pressure the French defence and goalkeeper Mike Maignan and failed to produce a shot on goal. Iraq had their best spell after Arnold made a double substitution in the 73rd minute, replacing Ibrahim Bayesh and Amir Al Ammari with Marko Farki and Aimar Sher. Iraq recovered possession in midfield before Al Hamadi latched on to a cross right in front of Maignan's net, although his shot was wide. And, like the relentless downpour that soaked Lincoln Financial Field, France applied wave after wave of pressure against Iraq's defence. Wingers Michael Olise and Bradley Barcola stormed up the wings, while Dembele scored his first World Cup goal in the 66th minute. Olise nearly added a goal of his own with a chip beyond Basil's reach yet was denied by the crossbar. Mbappe nearly completed his hat-trick in the 90th minute. Monday's defeat leaves Iraq's World Cup hopes hanging by a thread. While they could neither advance nor be eliminated following the result of this game, they currently sit fourth in Group I on zero points. Iraq will next play against Senegal in Toronto on Friday to close out the group, with both sides looking to avoid elimination.

Mbappe dazzles as France outclass Iraq in stormy Philadelphia

Aymen Hussein's status in doubt after sustaining injury