We backed Kylian Mbappe again and he delivered again. France beat Iraq 3-0 after a long storm delay in Philadelphia, and Mbappe turned another premium captain call into points with two goals and a proper statement performance.
This was not complicated from a fantasy point of view. France had the better players, the cleaner chances and the only serious goal threat for most of the night. Mbappe was the obvious route in, Olise was the creative hub, and Dembele finally got his reward.
Here are the Demon Notes from France 3-0 Iraq: the full-time team stats, Mbappe's player numbers, Olise's role, and why Norway's win could keep France honest for MD3.
France 3-0 Iraq
- Goals: Kylian Mbappe x2, Ousmane Dembele
- Assists: Michael Olise x2, Ousmane Dembele
- Key story: Mbappe scored twice and moved to 16 World Cup goals
- Weather note: the match had a long storm delay before France finished the job
- Next fixtures: Norway v France, Senegal v Iraq
Team Stats
Player Stats
| Player | Pos | Price | Output | Match stats | MD3 note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kylian Mbappe | FWD | £10.5m | 2 goals | 8 shots, 3 on target, 1.20 xG, 0.11 xA, 10 touches in the box | Still a top captain if France chase first place |
| Michael Olise | MID | £9.5m | 2 assists | Created both Mbappe's opener and Dembele's goal, kept finding pockets | Role is excellent, but price means you need confidence in the start |
| Ousmane Dembele | MID | £10.0m | 1 goal, 1 assist | Scored on 66', assisted Mbappe on 54', subbed after the third | Ceiling is real, but he competes directly with other premium mids |
| Bradley Barcola | MID | £8.0m | Start, no return | Started on the left and came off late as France managed minutes | Good player, awkward fantasy pick if the front line rotates |
| Mike Maignan | GK | £5.5m | Clean sheet | Iraq had 0 shots on target and just 0.60 xG | Norway is a harder fixture, but France defence is now live |
| William Saliba | DEF | £5.5m | Clean sheet | Started in the back four and helped France control Iraq's penalty-box touches | Only a buy if you are happy backing France against Norway |
Demon Notes
- Mbappe (£10.5m) was the clear premium angle and he did exactly what we needed. Two goals, eight shots and 1.20 xG is the sort of captain profile you pay for.
- France dominated the game properly. The 19-4 shot count, 5-0 shots on target and 42-7 touches in the opposition box tell you Iraq were mostly hanging on.
- Olise (£9.5m) is the interesting one. Two assists is the headline, but the role is the real sell. He is drifting inside, linking with Mbappe and taking responsibility in the final third.
- Dembele (£10.0m) finally paid off with a goal and assist. The output was excellent, but the price is still awkward because France have so many premium attackers and only so many fantasy slots.
- The clean sheet was deserved. Iraq finished with 0 shots on target, and France limited them to 0.60 xG. That brings the defenders and Maignan back into the conversation, even if Norway is not an easy MD3 fixture.
- The big thing now is group context. Norway also won, so France may still need a serious XI in MD3 to top the group. That is important because it makes Mbappe and Olise less scary from a rotation point of view than a fully qualified dead-rubber team.
What It Means For MD3
France play Norway in MD3, and because Norway have also won, this is not a simple rest-everyone situation. Top spot matters, seeding matters, and France will not want to drift into the knockouts with a weaker route than necessary.
That does not mean France are rotation-proof. It does mean we should not automatically assume Mbappe gets wrapped in cotton wool. If the group is there to be won, France can go strong, and Mbappe remains one of the best captaincy names on the slate.
Olise is the main supporting pick. The minutes are the only question. If he starts against Norway, the creative role is good enough to justify serious consideration, especially if managers are chasing upside rather than just safe points.
Verdict: Mbappe buyers got paid, and France assets are still alive for MD3. Norway is tougher than Iraq, but the group situation could keep the big names on the pitch.