Kylian Mbappe celebrates a goal for France at Stadium 974 in Doha, in Qatar. Photo: AFP
Kylian Mbappe scored twice for France as the defending champions laid down a World Cup marker by beating Denmark to become the first team into the knockout stage.
The forward stole the show once again with second-half strikes to take his side through.
Mbappe had earlier blazed over from 12 yards and forced Kasper Schmeichel into a save with a rising shot.
But the Paris St-Germain star broke the deadlock just past the hour mark, exchanging a fine one-two with Theo Hernandez before stroking in.
Denmark equalised just seven minutes later with their first effort on target as defender Andreas Christensen headed home at the far post after France failed to clear a corner.
Christensen, though, may have counted himself lucky to still be on the pitch at that point after receiving only a yellow card on 20 minutes for dragging back Mbappe, who was looking to run clear.
France keeper Hugo Lloris made a sharp stop to keep out Tottenham team-mate Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg's first-time shot, while Martin Braithwaite agonisingly fired into the side netting.
Four years ago Mbappe became France's youngest scorer in the competition when aged 19.
And with four minutes left, he snatched the winner, sneaking in at the far post to convert Antoine Griezmann's cross.
Box-office Mbappe revels in the spotlight
All eyes were on Olivier Giroud before the game and whether he could become France's all-time leading scorer and move clear of Thierry Henry.
But the AC Milan striker failed to make an impact and was replaced just after the 61st-minute opener as Mbappe revelled in the spotlight.
Just 23, he already has 31 international goals and is rapidly closing in on Giroud and Henry's 51-goal mark.
Kylian Mbappe is already a standout at the World Cup in Qatar. Photo: AFP
Mbappe's double helped France win a sixth straight World Cup game for the first time and also become the first holders since Brazil in 2006 to qualify from the group stage.
He converted the first following a delightful interchange with Theo Hernandez, who replaced brother Lucas after a knee injury ended his tournament.
Defender Raphael Varane started a game for the first time since 22 October, when he left the pitch in tears for Manchester United against Chelsea after suffering a muscular injury in the Premier League game.
He had the first chance when a flicked header was cleared off the line by Joakim Maehle.
Adrien Rabiot's nodded effort was then tipped away by Schmeichel, while the Nice keeper also kept out Griezmann's low drive.
Although Denmark equalised through Christensen's header - only one of two efforts on goal for Kasper Hjulmand's men - Mbappe turned in Griezmann's cross before celebrating passionately in front of the flag-waving French fans.
Earlier, Australia's Socceroos won a World Cup game for only the third time, reviving their last-16 hopes with a dogged 1-nil defeat of Tunisia.
A Mitch Duke header gave Australia their first World Cup victory in 12 years in a hardfought contest on Saturday that kept alive their hopes of progressing from Group D.
Target man Duke scored in the 23rd minute with a glancing header that flew past keeper Aymen Dahmen's despairing dive, and the Socceroos then held back a largely toothless Tunisian attack over the remainder of the contest.
The victory, only the third for Australia in six visits to the World Cup finals, was the perfect response to their 4-1 drubbing at the hands of France at the same Al Janoub Stadium on Tuesday.
"I'm hugely proud of the boys. They showed Aussie fighting spirit. They were in their faces all the time and I'm sure they made the nation very proud," said Australia coach Graham Arnold.
"The other night we played against the current world champions and the boys showed the same effort today. When the doubters hate us, bring it on."
Tunisia, who opened their campaign with a 0-0 draw against Denmark, now face a Herculean task if they are to get into the knockout stages of a World Cup for the first time with their last group fixture being against France.
"It was a very tough match between two very tough teams," said coach Jalel Kadri.
"I think today we should have played to win. We still have one match to play and we will play with our hearts out."
Tunisia, roared on by a vast army of red-shirted compatriots, made clear their intentions from the start, ranging five defenders and two holding midfielders across the pitch and inviting the Australians to try to break them down.
Australia had some success getting the ball down the flanks but the final ball into the area rarely got anywhere near a blue shirt as the Tunisian defenders wrapped up the Socceroos forwards.
Craig Goodwin's cross from the left looked to be heading the same way until it took a hefty deflection off a Tunisian defender and looped to Duke, who caressed it into the far right corner of the net.
The goal was the first conceded by Tunisia against any team barring Brazil in their last 11 matches and forced the Tunisians to come out of their defensive shell.
Defender Mohamed Draeger and skipper Youssef Msakni had chances just before the break but Harry Souttar blocked the first and the second flashed past the post.
Australia kept compact in the midfield, where the outstanding Aaron Mooy ran the show for the Socceroos, and Tunisia were reduced to punting long balls to the wings.
Tunisia brought on the squad's top scorer Wahbi Khazri in the 68th minute as they upped the tempo in search of an equaliser, but the Australian defence stood firm with goalkeeper and skipper Mat Ryan a calming presence at the back.
Naim Sliti broke free of the defence with only minutes left on the clock but Souttar stormed across the pitch to put in a crunching last-gasp tackle.
The victory snapped Australia's seven-match winless run at World Cups since they last picked up three points in a victory over Serbia in 2010. They play Denmark in their final group match on Wednesday.
-BBC
