France advances to last 16 after defeating Sweden

By Bilal Ahmed

By Bilal Ahmed — 30 June 2026 — 3 min read

France secured a decisive 3-0 victory over Sweden in the World Cup Round of 32, advancing to the last 16. The match saw Kylian Mbappe score twice, further solidifying his position as a key player for his national side. The game was played in scorching temperatures in New Jersey, yet Les Bleus maintained a strong offensive presence throughout.

Mbappe’s performance was notable, as he became the all-time leading goalscorer in World Cup knockout matches. His two goals in the match brought his total to 10 knockout stage goals. He also now shares the lead in the Golden Boot race for this tournament with Argentina’s Lionel Messi, with both players having scored six goals.

First Half Dominance and Breakthrough

France began the match with an aggressive approach, immediately putting pressure on Sweden’s defense. An early goal by Mbappe in the 20th minute was disallowed due to an offside call. Shortly after, Mbappe hit the post following a low cross from Jules Kounde. Michael Olise also came close to scoring, striking the upright with an audacious scissor kick from inside the penalty area, with Ousmane Dembele sending the rebound wide.

Sweden’s goalkeeper, Jacob Widell Zetterstrom, made several fine saves, frustrating the French attack for much of the first half. However, he was unable to stop Mbappe just before half-time. Mbappe received a slide-rule pass from Dembele, wrong-footed Viktor Gyokeres with a stepover, and then fired the ball into the far corner, giving France the lead.

Sweden had an immediate chance to equalize, but Elliot Stroud shot over the bar from 12 yards out after the ball fell to him. This opportunity marked the peak of Sweden’s resistance in the match.

Second Half Control and Next Steps

Eight minutes into the second half, Bradley Barcola extended France’s lead. He connected with a pass from Olise and struck the ball into the near post. Dembele continued to test Widell Zetterstrom with a curling shot, and the Swedish goalkeeper also denied Olise in a one-on-one situation.

Mbappe secured his second goal in the 74th minute, once again from an Olise pass, curling the ball past Widell Zetterstrom. Gyokeres had an opportunity for a late consolation goal after being played through, but the Arsenal striker was denied by France’s goalkeeper, Mike Maignan.

Prior to the match, coach Didier Deschamps had been addressing issues on the left side of his team. While France had a perfect record in Group I, scoring 10 goals in wins over Senegal, Iraq, and Norway, the left flank was considered less settled. Theo Hernandez had not fully convinced at left-back, leading to expectations that Lucas Digne would be brought in for more defensive security and better delivery from wide areas.

Additionally, Barcola was expected to replace Desire Doue on the left of France’s attack to provide more direct running, pace in transition, and natural width. The return of William Saliba in central defense was also anticipated to bring stability to the defense, which had sometimes been caught off guard. Despite these adjustments, France’s attacking depth, featuring players like Barcola, Doue, Rayan Cherki, Jean-Philippe Mateta, and Marcus Thuram, was highlighted as a significant advantage.

Sweden, who finished second in Group F behind the Netherlands, had opened their campaign with a 5-1 win over Tunisia, followed by a 5-1 loss to the Netherlands and a 1-1 draw with Japan. Despite their physical presence and organization, their firepower was considered to be significantly less than France’s. Former England great Gary Lineker commented on France’s attacking strength, noting that while they could be vulnerable on the counter, they would likely outscore opponents.

France will now face Paraguay in the last 16. Paraguay defeated Germany on penalties on Monday, and the upcoming match is scheduled for Saturday, 4 July, at 22:00 BST in Philadelphia.

Source: bbc.co.uk