France advances in World Cup
France secured a 3-0 victory over Sweden in a World Cup knockout round match held in East Rutherford, N.J. Kylian Mbappé was a key player, scoring twice to contribute to his team’s win. This result sets up a round of 16 encounter for France against Paraguay.
Mbappé’s performance included a goal in the 45th minute and another in the second half. His two goals in this match brought his tournament total to six, placing him alongside Argentina forward Lionel Messi for the lead in the competition. These goals also increased his career World Cup tally to 18.
The match saw Bradley Barcola add another goal for France in the 53rd minute, with Mbappé completing the scoring in the 74th minute. This marked Mbappé’s third two-goal game in four matches during the tournament. His 10 knockout round goals surpass the previous record held by Brazilian players Leonidas and Ronaldo.
France coach Didier Deschamps acknowledged Mbappé’s contribution, bowing when the star player was substituted in the 85th minute. Deschamps commented on the team’s collective effort, stating, “We’re on a mission. — so am I with them.”
The match was played in challenging conditions, with temperatures reaching 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 degrees Celsius) at the 5 p.m. kickoff, accompanied by sunny and humid weather and poor air quality. During a hydration break in the first half, France defender Lucas Digne was seen being doused by a sprinkler.
France, who were World Cup runners-up four years prior and are considered a favorite in the current tournament, have demonstrated strong offensive capabilities, outscoring opponents 13-2. Michael Olise has been instrumental in their attack, providing five assists.
Match highlights and key plays
The first half of the match presented an interesting contest, with Sweden showing a willingness to compete and employing a clear game plan. They created counterattack opportunities, utilizing players like Anthony Elanga and Viktor Gyökeres to link up with Alexander Isak. Isak had two shots on goal within the opening 25 minutes, though neither troubled France’s goalkeeper Mike Maignan due to the defensive efforts of Dayot Upamecano and William Saliba.
Despite Sweden’s compact defending, France eventually found their rhythm. After a forceful drive from Adrian Rabiot was saved by Jacob Widell Zetterström, France intensified their attack. Mbappé hit a post in the 32nd minute, and Olise nearly scored with a spectacular bicycle kick that also struck the post four minutes later. Olise then had another shot turned around a post for a corner.
The opening goal came from a short corner kick taken by Ousmane Dembélé to Olise, who returned the pass. Dembélé then quickly passed to Mbappé inside the box. Mbappé used a crossover step to get past Gyökeres and sent a diagonal shot inside the far post. He celebrated his 61st international goal by colliding with Dembélé and then embracing Deschamps, who had returned for the match after attending his mother’s funeral.
France’s second goal in the 53rd minute followed a turnover by Sweden. Aurélien Tchouaméni seized possession and passed to Olise, who delivered a precise pass between a Swedish defender and full-back. This allowed Bradley Barcola to run into the box and score. Olise’s influence continued throughout the second half, as he moved across the forward line, dropped deep, and made runs, consistently seeking the ball to create danger.
Olise provided his second assist of the game for Mbappé’s second goal with 15 minutes remaining. This play involved another deft pass from Olise and a well-timed run from Mbappé, who curled the ball into the far side of the goal. The match was attended by a crowd of 80,663, contributing to a record total for the expanded 104-match tournament, which now exceeds 5 million attendees.
Sweden captain Victor Lindelöf acknowledged the strength of their opponent, stating, “We lost against one of the best countries in the world.” He also reflected on Sweden’s presence in the tournament, noting, “If we look at where we were not so long ago — we’re here and we’ve played in the World Cup.”
Looking ahead, France will face Paraguay on July 4 in Philadelphia. The winner of that match will advance to a quarterfinal against either Canada or Morocco five days later in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
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Source: apnews.com
Mason Reed
Sports reporter covering football, basketball and international competitions.