Kylian Mbappe scored twice as France beat Iraq in the longest ever World Cup game after a 131-minute weather delay due to thunderstorms at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.France led 1-0 when the half-time whistle went at 5.49pm local time (10.49pm BST) and supporters were told to take shelter inside the stadium concourse. Play did not resume until 8pm with storms bringing heavy rain, strong winds and the threat of lightning.Waiting out the rain delay at Philadelphia StadiumMatt Slater and James HorncastleThe first half had concluded in torrential rain with players and staff soaked through and Iraq coach Graham Arnold sheltering under a cover for his match-day notes. Because of the lengthy delay there was no hydration break in the second-half for the first time in this tournament.Mbappe has now scored 4 goals at this World Cup and 16 in tournament history, putting him two behind Lionel Messi in the all-time list after the 38-year-old Argentina captain scored twice against Austria earlier in the day.In all, the match concluded almost four hours after it started.Here The Athletic’s James Horncastle, Amy Lawrence and Tom Burrows break down the key talking points.Why was the game delayed for so long?France’s match against Iraq was the first game of the tournament that was delayed due to the adverse weather.Such delays were a feature of last summer’s Club World Cup but a combination of some indoor stadiums and good fortune meant it took until day 12 for a game to be held up this summer.At half time, and with France leading 1-0, supporters were instructed over the tannoy and via messages on the big screen to leave the stands and take shelter because a “severe thunderstorm was approaching.”That resulted in a 131-minute delay as storms brought heavy rain, high winds and lightning. The initial hope was that play would restart at 7pm local time but a thunderstorm watch was in place until 9pm and as The Athletic’s weather expert Aaron Mentkowski reported, two further lines of storms appeared near the stadium with the second arriving at around 7.30pm, delaying any attempt at a restart.As this article explained, U.S. protocol suspends play if thunder or lightning is detected within eight miles of the stadium. Play can restart only after 30 minutes without lightning within the eight-mile zone. Any new strike resets the 30-minute countdown and there is no limit to the delays.After the game kicked off in dry conditions, it was 36 minutes into the contest when the heavens opened at the Philadelphia Stadium and the crowd all rushed for their ponchos.On the touchline, Iraq’s manager Graham Arnold put a poncho on — but changed his mind after just 12 seconds, choosing to remain in his suit. He also attempted to use a folder to cover his head.By the time the game resumed more than an inch of rain had fallen and the pitch was sodden in places.The extreme weather had earlier led to fans being delayed entering the ground.Tom BurrowsCan Mbappe catch Messi’s new World Cup goals record?Before the Iraq game, Kylian Mbappe did his best to suggest he isn’t interested in the record. “I’ll keep scoring to help my team,” he said. “And to go as far as possible. But I want to win the World Cup.”Four years ago, Mbappe became the first player since Geoff Hurst to score a hat-trick in a final. He must have felt it gave him a great chance to retain the trophy he won in Russia. Alas, it wasn’t enough, as Argentina prevailed in a shoot-out and Lionel Messi’s quest for glory in this competition reached fulfilment. A few days shy of his 39th birthday, Messi has improbably started this tournament on fire with five goals in two games.“I already knew that Messi was going to score goals,” Mbappe said. “He always does. It’s more a question for Lio. He’s ahead of me. I’m behind.” Messi got to play after Mbappe last week and seemed engaged in a game of one-upmanship. His hat-trick against Algeria followed Mbappe’s brace against Senegal. This time, it was the other way round. Messi started with a brace against Austria and Mbappe got the chance to go next.For all his claims of disinterest in Miroslav Klose’s record, once Messi broke it and set a new benchmark earlier in the day, Mbappe played as if inspired by it. He began by curling another goal in from outside of the box, a strike reminiscent of his second at MetLife against Senegal. Then he had the audacity to try to lob the Iraqi goalkeeper from the centre circle. After the rain delay, he made it 16 in 16 World Cup games, breathing down Messi’s neck.Iraq represented Mbappe’s best chance of stat-padding. Norway in Boston will be a tougher test, although one imagines the competitor in him again will want to out-perform Erling Haaland. As it stands Sweden would await France in the Round of 32, and given the Netherlands put five past them, the chances for Mbappe to chase down Messi are ample.Most significantly of all, age is also on the 27-year-old’s side.James HorncastleWho will France face in the knockouts?Victory over Iraq put France three points clear at the top of group I, though Norway are playing a game against Senegal at MetLife (that you can follow live here). The two European sides meet on Friday in Boston to decide who will top the group.If they win the group, they will play a third-place team from Groups C, D, F, G or H in their first knockout game in New York on June 30. If they get second, they will play the Group E runner-up in Dallas on June 30.At present, The Athletic projects France’s most likely last 32 opponents to be Sweden (50 per cent chance), Japan (20 per cent), or Ivory Coast (15 per cent).Either way, finishing top of group sets France on course to play Germany, already confirmed as group E winners, in Philadelphia on July 4 in the last 16.Are France more than just Mbappe?It takes more than the world’s longest hydration break to dampen France’s sense of brimming possibility in this World Cup. It was interesting timing to have them playing after Argentina, because it added weight to one of the most compelling differences about the two teams — finalists last time out. While Argentina feels very much like Messi and friends, France are showing that they carry devastating threat across the front line.The attacking luxuries are so bounteous it remains a work in progress for Didier Deschamps to cut the diamonds to maximum collective shine. At times against Iraq, as they did against Senegal, they flowed so freely. At other times they seemed to be in more of a cruise control, and it was fair to wonder about the use of Ousmane Dembele on the right flank, or who should start and who should finish on the left out of Bradley Barcola and Desire Doue.The absolute key to France’s attack is the telepathic understanding brewing between Mbappe and Olise, whose combined trickery and close control is in perfect harmony. They look like they adore playing together, riffing together on the pitch, and look to find each other naturally, as they did with such verve for France’s opener. Whether either are rested for some or all of the final group game, it seems certain that they are the unmoving parts in the French attack.Dembele might not have truly caught fire yet, and doesn’t look fully himself on the right, but it was pleasing to see him get a goal and an assist against Iraq. He hunted down an Iraqi defensive error and unselfishly gave Mbappe a simple finish, before taking another beautiful pass from Olise to drive into the far corner.There is no doubt that as France go into the knock-outs they will be trying to tweak the attack to find the very best blend, also safe in the knowledge they have thoroughbreds in reserve to come in at any time.