Mbappe saves French blushes in 2-2 draw with Iceland

Soccer Football - International Friendly - France v Iceland - Stade municipal de Roudourou, Guingamp, France - October 11, 2018 France's Kylian Mbappe celebrates their first goal scored by Iceland's Holmar Orn Eyjolfsson with an own goal REUTERS/Stephane Mahe

GUINGAMP, France (Reuters) - France substitute Kylian Mbappe engineered two late goals to rescue a 2-2 draw against Iceland and spare the blushes of the world champions in their friendly in Guingamp on Thursday.

The home side enjoyed the lion's share of possession and created plenty of good scoring opportunities, but Iceland, hammered 6-0 and 3-0 in their last two games by Switzerland and Belgium, still managed to take the lead on the half-hour mark.

Alfred Finnbogason dispossessed defender Presnel Kimpembe near the corner flag before jinking inside Lucas Digne and squaring the ball to the onrushing Birkir Bjarnason, who side-footed it home from the edge of the area.

Soccer Football - International Friendly - France v Iceland - Stade municipal de Roudourou, Guingamp, France - October 11, 2018 France's Kylian Mbappe celebrates their first goal scored by Iceland's Holmar Orn Eyjolfsson with an own goal REUTERS/Stephane Mahe

It was Iceland's first goal under new coach Erik Hamren and Kari Arnason added their second 13 minutes into the second half, flicking a near-post corner past France keeper Hugo Lloris and into the net.

That prompted the introduction of Mbappe, who scored France's fourth goal in their 4-2 World Cup final win over Croatia.

The Iceland players threw themselves frantically at every ball in a concerted effort to keep their clean sheet, but they were undone in the 86th minute.

Soccer Football - International Friendly - France v Iceland - Stade municipal de Roudourou, Guingamp, France - October 11, 2018 France's Kylian Mbappe reacts REUTERS/Stephane Mahe

After having a goal ruled out for offside, the 19-year-old Mbappe hammered a shot that goalkeeper Hannes Halldorsson deflected into Holmar Orn Eyjolfsson, who sent it bouncing across the line for an own goal.

Mbappe levelled the scores four minutes later, stepping up to rifle the ball home from the penalty spot after a handball by Kolbeinn Sigthorsson.

France host Germany at the Stade de France on Tuesday in their third UEFA Nations League A, Group 1 match, having picked up four points from their opening two games.

Soccer Football - International Friendly - France v Iceland - Stade municipal de Roudourou, Guingamp, France - October 11, 2018 France's Kylian Mbappe reacts after sustaining an injury REUTERS/Stephane Mahe

Iceland host Switzerland in Group 2 on Monday.

(Reporting by Philip O'Connor; Editing by Toby Davis)

Soccer Football - International Friendly - France v Iceland - Stade municipal de Roudourou, Guingamp, France - October 11, 2018 France's Kylian Mbappe celebrates scoring their second goal REUTERS/Stephane Mahe

Soccer Football - International Friendly - France v Iceland - Stade municipal de Roudourou, Guingamp, France - October 11, 2018 France's Kylian Mbappe shoots before Iceland's Holmar Orn Eyjolfsson scored France's first goal with own goal REUTERS/Stephane Mahe

Soccer Football - International Friendly - France v Iceland - Stade municipal de Roudourou, Guingamp, France - October 11, 2018 France's Kylian Mbappe shoots at goal REUTERS/Stephane Mahe

Soccer Football - International Friendly - France v Iceland - Stade municipal de Roudourou, Guingamp, France - October 11, 2018 France's Thomas Lemar in action with Iceland's Johann Gudmundsson REUTERS/Stephane Mahe

Soccer Football - International Friendly - France v Iceland - Stade municipal de Roudourou, Guingamp, France - October 11, 2018 Iceland's Kari Arnason celebrates scoring their second goal with team mates REUTERS/Stephane Mahe

Soccer Football - International Friendly - France v Iceland - Stade municipal de Roudourou, Guingamp, France - October 11, 2018 Iceland's Kari Arnason celebrates scoring their second goal with team mates REUTERS/Stephane Mahe