Sadio Diallo becomes youngest African World Cup scorer as Senegal fall to France

Sadio Diallo, 18, writes history in 3–1 loss to France

France 3–1 Senegal at MetLife Stadium on Tuesday. The scoreline does not tell your team's story. Sadio Diallo, 18 years old, became the youngest African to score at a World Cup (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6). That record belongs to Senegal now, not the headlines France are writing about themselves.

Kylian Mbappé scored twice in the second half after a disjointed first 45 from the champions. Olivier Giroud got the opener. France looked vulnerable early, Claude Makélélé tore into Mbappé at the break: "What do you want? The ball to come to you?" (6). The answer came quickly. Two goals, and Giroud's all-time France scoring record gone with them.

William Saliba was the other story. Injury doubts before kickoff, and he walked off as France's best defender (4). "We played a top team. The first half wasn't good, they had more chances than us," Saliba said afterwards (4).

Your team had chances. That is what matters heading into the rest of Group I. Cissé's squad did not look overwhelmed, they looked like they belonged.

Mbappé and Olise: the partnership France cannot stop talking about

Mbappé was asked about Michael Olise after the match. His answer was blunt: "Playing with Michael is very easy. He's a player who always has his head up. You always have to try to give him an option. He always wants to play forward, serve his teammates, so I knew he would see me every time I made a move, even if sometimes the ball didn't reach me" (3).

Olise set up chances all night. The chemistry between them is real, and it is bad news for every team left in this tournament.

Giroud: "It was inevitable"

Mbappé now stands alone as France's all-time top scorer. Giroud, the man he passed, did not sound surprised. "It was inevitable" (5). Two goals against Senegal did it. The record had stood for years. Now it is Mbappé's.

Saliba fit, Saliba dominant

Arsenal fans held their breath when Saliba's fitness was questioned before the match. He started. He controlled the defensive line. He walked off with three points and no sign of the injury that had made headlines all week (4). Senegal tested him more than most expected. He answered every question.

Fan reactions

Zlatibor Ibrahimovic went after Alexi Lalas on Tuesday, calling the American pundit "ignorant" for his analysis of the France match. The clip has been circulating all morning, it is the kind of post-match chaos that happens when your team makes the world pay attention. Full thread here.