"He can from time to time miss a game or two but on one action he really is able to tip the scales and bring his team to victory."
"People say he doesn't defend enough. Well, he's not here to defend," added Deschamps.
Mbappe addressed the media after the match, downplaying negative commentary. "It's not about revenge," he said.
"If I started playing for all the people who criticize me just to silence them, I'd have to play until I was 80."
French defender William Saliba expressed complete confidence in Mbappe's ability to break the all-time World Cup scoring record held by Miroslav Klose.
"A crazy goal," said Saliba regarding Mbappe's 96th-minute long-range strike. "I'm sure that he will do it."
Senegal coach Pape Thiaw lamented his team's missed opportunities in the first half, including a Nicolas Jackson shot that hit the post and a missed chance by Ismaila Sarr.
"If we had been more efficient, by halftime, we would have been able to lead 1- or 2-nil," said Thiaw.
>>> Portugal Opens World Cup Against DR Congo in Houston
France is scheduled to play Iraq on Monday in Philadelphia for their next Group I fixture. Senegal will face Norway at MetLife Stadium on the same day.
