PHILADELPHIA – Mother Nature gave France and Iraq a nearly 2-hour hydration break on June 22 at Lincoln Financial Field.

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Lightning strikes in the area cleared the stands as halftime arrived and delayed the start of the second half.

Few among the sellout crowd of 68,324 left during that rainy delay, which certainly wouldn’t have been the case had this been U.S. college or pro sports. The stands looked as full in the second half as they did in the first.

Unfortunately for the Iraqis, however, the French national team also returned for their World Cup duel. Les Bleus, with leading man Kylian Mbappe and his many talented peers, turned their night that sad shade.

“We executed the game plan, but they are good,” Iraq’s Rebin Sulaka said matter-of-factly afterward.

Iraq was the last team to qualify for the World Cup. France won it in 2018, reached the finals in 2022 before losing on penalty kicks and is among the favorites this year.

Its 3-0 win Monday increases the likelihood that the French will return to Philadelphia for a round-of-16 match, possibly against rival neighbor Germany, on July 4.

The differences were quite apparent, though this being soccer, where scoring is rare and difficult, Iraq was able to keep it close for a while.

But at the ripe old age of 27, Mbappe somehow remains precocious, a brat who consistently confounds foes with cleverness and creativity, swiftness and skill. He also plays with an obvious joy and exuberance that is contagious.

All of those qualities were evident as he helped assure France's spot in the knockout round.

France’s first goal Monday night came when Mbappe actually made an errant pass. Somehow the ball bounced back to him as a teammate and an Iraqi player fought for possession.

Mbappe promptly drilled a left-footed shot 20 yards out from the right half of the field into the upper left-hand corner of the goal in the 14th minute, sending his flag-bearing countrymen and women into hysterics.

To make the Lincoln Financial Field playing surface wide enough for soccer, seats were removed at the four corners of the stadium. Space is as valuable an asset as speed, and few make better use of it than Mbappe.

He’d had previous opportunities before converting that one. If a ball found space, it often seemed to be landing at Mbappe’s dangerous feet, whether he was on the right or left wing or more centered.

His second goal, early in the second half, was a gift from Iraq. Defender Zaid Tahseen, taking a goal kick, sent a square ball to his left to goalkeeper Ahmed Basile, who was not anticipating the pass and it flicked off his foot to Ousmane Dembele. Mbappe tapped in his pass to make it 2-0.

Dembele was then rewarded with a 66th minute goal of his own, his first in a World Cup game.

Earlier in the day Lionel Messi became the World Cup’s all-time leading scorer, getting his fourth and fifth goals of this tournament to break the record held by Germany’s Miroslav Klose that he’d equaled with his hat trick against Algeria. Messi has 18 career World Cup tallies.

Mbappe had actually been one ahead of Messi after scoring twice against Senegal last week and is now two behind with 16 career World Cup goals.

The two were Paris St. Germain teammates from 2021-23 before Messi moved to FC Miami in Major League Soccer. Mbappe later went to Real Madrid. While their greatness is indisputable, Mbappe is 11½ years younger and will surely eclipse the Argentine wonder’s mark.  

In the 2018 World Cup at age 19, Mbappe had become the second teenager to score in a World Cup final, joining Brazil immortal Pele, while sparking France to the title on home soil. Anyone who equals the accomplishments of the great Brazilian is surely destined for his own immortality.

“Not sure if Kylian will play to their age,” France coach Didier Deschamps said afterward, “but if he plays, he will score a lot of goals. Has the capacity to up his ante.”

Three nights after fans in Philly were treated to Brazil’s soccer splendor in its 3-0 win over Haiti, the French were equally impressive with Mbappe exhibiting his renowned proficiency, which will be on display for this World Cup and probably a couple more.

More on World Cup

PLEASANT SIGHT: Brazil dominates Haiti while World Cup spirit unites fans

CAN'T HAPPEN: Don't hold your breath for a July 4 US-England World Cup match in Philly

SEEING THEIR IDOLS: Players on high-level Delaware soccer team relish World Cup

DELAWARE CONNECTION: Mark McKenzie on verge of playing in World Cup

Contact Kevin Tresolini at [email protected] and follow on Twitter @kevintresolini. Support local journalism by subscribing to delawareonline.com and our DE Game Day newsletter.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Kylian Mbappe follows Lionel Messi's big day with his own for France

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The Indiana Football Coaches Association will honor its recent Hall of Fame classes for Region 7 on Thursday, June 25 at Primo South Banquet & Conference Center.

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Both the 2025 and ’26 classes will be honored at the ceremony for the Hall of Fame, which was founded in 1973 to honor those who have contributed to the game of football in Indiana. Here is a look at the individuals who will be honored on Thursday:

2026 class

John Hart

Hart, currently the coach at Brownsburg, has won state championships at three different schools, including the past two Class 6A titles at Brownsburg. He also won a Class 5A title at Warren Central in 2009 and a 4A title at Reitz in 2007. He has coached 41 years total, including 25 in Indiana and the other 16 in Illinois. Hart’s overall record is 364-99.

Among Hart’s many honors is an induction into the Illinois Football Hall of Fame in 2021. He and his wife, Janet, have four children: Nick (the current football coach and athletic director at Gibson Southern); Brittany (the girls’ basketball coach at Jasper); Kristen; and Derek (football coach at Jasper). John and Janet have 11 grandchildren.

Anthony Henderson

Henderson was a standout defensive lineman coming out of North Central, earning all-state honors in his junior and senior seasons of 1988 and 1989. After his senior year, he was named a Parade All-American. Henderson was also a standout wrestler who was a two-time regional title winner as a heavyweight and was fifth in state as a senior.

Henderson went on to be a four-year starter at the University of Michigan, twice earning all-Big Ten Conference honors. He played in two Rose Bowls and four bowl games total. Henderson went on to play in the Arena League from 1996-2004, retiring as the career sack and fumble recovery leader for the Arizona Rattlers and Chicago Rush.

Henderson went on to coach at several high school programs and is currently the head coach at Purdue Poly Englewood.

Courtney Roby

Roby, a 2001 North Central graduate, was named all-state as a senior and was also a standout in track and field for the Panthers. After high school, Roby went on to Indiana University to be a two-sport athlete, setting all-time program records for career receptions (170) and yardage (2,524). He was named All-Big Ten Conference as a senior and placed fourth in the 100-meter dash at the Big Ten championships.

Roby went on to a 10-year NFL career with the Indianapolis Colts, New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons. He was the Saints’ captain in 2011 and ’12. Roby and wife, Krystal, have two daughters, Rhyan and Ryleigh.

Lance Scheib

The 1985 Warren Central graduate was a standout as a senior on the Class 4A state championship team, leading the state in catches (74), receiving yards (1,249) and receiving touchdowns (20), capping his career with three touchdown catches in the state finals – a record that still stands.

Following his high school career, Scheib was a four-year letterwinner at Purdue. He had a three-touchdown game against Pitt in 1986. He went on to coach for 26 years, including 23 years as a head coach at Lebanon, Franklin Central and Noblesville. Scheib and his wife of 31 years, Kristen, are parents to three sons: JD, Andrew and Chris.

2025 class

Burt Austin

Austin was a standout player at Franklin Central during a run of three consecutive state championships in Class 2A in 1980, ’81 and ’82. Austin was a three-time all-state running back who led Marion County in scoring and rushing in those three seasons and still is the program’s leader in both categories. He was named the Phil Eskew Award recipient after the 1982 state finals.

Austin went on to be a four-year letterman at Ball State and captain of the 1986 football team. He taught and coached at Carmel, Ben Davis and Plant City, Fla. He also was the athletic director and coach at his alma mater, Franklin Central. His family includes daughter Ashley, son Aaron and granddaughters Harper and Aubrey.

Blaine Bishop

Bishop was a standout at Cathedral, graduating in 1988, before going on to be a three-year letterman, team captain and all-Mid-American Conference selection at Ball State. After college, Bishop was an eighth-round selection in the 1993 NFL Draft and carved out a 10-year career with the Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans defined by toughness, consistency and elite play.

The hard-hitting safety helped lead the Titans to the Super Bowl in 1999. He earned four Pro Bowl selections during his NFL career.

Donald Winston

Winston, a 1996 Scecina graduate, was the City Athlete of the Year as a senior and a finalist for Mr. Football. The standout running back was named first team All-City as a junior and senior in 1994 and 1995. Winston was also a standout in basketball and track and field, earning 12 varsity letters during high school. He won the high jump as a senior, clearing a 7-foot jump.

Winston went to college at Purdue, where he was a member of the 2000 Big Ten Conference championship team. He earned several honors, including the 2000 Red Mackey Seniro Leadership Award. Winston is currently the Chief Operating Officer at Wabash, where he provides strategic leadership across the organization.

Donald and his wife of 25 years, Laura, are proud parents of son Adrian (wife Irene) and daughter Zaria.

Call Star reporter Kyle Neddenriep at (317) 444-6649.Get IndyStar's high school coverage sent directly to your inbox with the High School Sports newsletter. And be sure to subscribe to our new IndyStarTV: Preps YouTube channel.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana Football Coaches Association to honor Region 7 Hall of Fame class

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