- Kylian Mbappe scores a brace.
- Michael Olise with two assists.
- France through to the round of 16 with brilliant display against Sweden.
France underlined their FIFA World Cup title credentials with another polished display, brushing aside Sweden 3-0 in their Round of 32 clash to book a place in the last 16.
Didier Deschamps’ side dictated proceedings from the opening whistle, combining defensive solidity with their trademark attacking flair as Kylian Mbappe once again stole the spotlight with a brilliant brace.
The French captain had already seen an effort ruled out for offside and another strike crash against the post before finally breaking the deadlock just before halftime.
Bradley Barcola doubled the advantage early in the second half after an intelligent attacking move before Mbappe completed the scoring with his second goal of the evening, taking his tournament tally to six.
Beyond the scoreline, several France players produced standout displays across the pitch, helping Les Bleus maintain another clean sheet while overwhelming Sweden with relentless pressure and quick attacking transitions.
France Player Ratings
Mike Maignan – 8/10
The AC Milan goalkeeper enjoyed a relatively quiet evening but remained alert whenever called upon. He produced a sharp late save to deny Viktor Gyokeres and secured his third clean sheet of the tournament with a commanding performance.
Jules Kounde – 7.5/10
Kounde offered far more going forward than in previous matches. His overlapping runs stretched Sweden’s defensive shape while remaining disciplined defensively whenever Sweden attempted to counter.
Dayot Upamecano – 7.2/10
A commanding display at the heart of defence. The Bayern Munich defender dominated aerial duels, won key tackles and comfortably dealt with Sweden’s direct approach throughout the contest.
William Saliba – 7.6/10
Saliba barely gave Alexander Isak any room to operate. Calm in possession and composed under pressure, the Arsenal defender marshalled the backline superbly while maintaining excellent distribution from defence.
Lucas Digne – 7.3/10
Although fortunate to escape conceding a penalty after an offside decision, Digne recovered well and delivered an improved second-half performance. His defensive recovery runs helped frustrate Sweden’s rare attacking moments.
Aurelien Tchouameni – 8/10
The Real Madrid midfielder shielded the defence effectively and controlled the tempo from deep. His positioning allowed France to dominate possession while quickly snuffing out Swedish counter-attacks.
Adrien Rabiot – 7.8/10
Given the freedom to venture forward, Rabiot linked midfield and attack seamlessly. His progressive passing regularly split Sweden’s midfield, creating space for France’s dangerous front line.
Ousmane Dembele – 8.3/10
Dembele constantly troubled Sweden with his pace and movement. His assist for Mbappe’s opener capped another energetic display, while his relentless pressing forced several turnovers high up the pitch.
Michael Olise – 9.2/10
One of France’s most influential performers. Olise orchestrated attacks with intelligence and creativity, registering two assists while repeatedly unlocking Sweden’s defence with incisive passes. His overall performance demonstrated why he is becoming indispensable to Deschamps’ attacking setup.
Bradley Barcola – 8.2/10
Barcola justified his place in the starting XI with another lively display. His pace stretched Sweden’s backline throughout, and he took his goal confidently after timing his run perfectly into the penalty area.
Kylian Mbappe – 9.5/10 (Man of the Match)
Another World Cup masterclass from France’s talisman. Despite early frustration after an offside goal and a shot off the woodwork, Mbappe remained patient before taking his chances clinically.
His two goals not only sealed France’s progression but also saw him set a new record for the most goals scored in World Cup knockout matches. His movement, acceleration and composure in front of goal proved too much for Sweden to handle.
Substitutes
Desire Doue (6.4), Malo Gusto (6.3) and Theo Hernandez (6.5) all slotted in comfortably after coming off the bench, helping France see out the victory without allowing Sweden any route back into the contest.
France’s balanced display once again highlighted why they remain among the favourites to lift the World Cup.
While Mbappe grabbed the headlines with another clinical performance, the defensive partnership of Saliba and Upamecano, coupled with Olise’s creativity, ensured Les Bleus controlled every aspect of the game.
With confidence soaring ahead of their Round of 16 clash against Paraguay, Deschamps’ side continue to look like the team to beat in the tournament.