EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Following Monday’s first knockout matches of the World Cup, one might have questioned if the early exits of four-time champions Germany and five-time winners Brazil had sparked any insecurities in France. Germany was eliminated by Paraguay, while Brazil narrowly defeated Japan with a late goal. (And let’s be clear, Morocco’s win over Netherlands is certainly not an upset.)
On this hot afternoon in New Jersey, France answered any doubts with a dominant 3-0 win over Sweden. Though Sweden wasn’t the toughest opponent, their defense was dismantled in a first half that suggested that Les Bleus could elevate their performance at any moment. They scored just once but rattled the woodwork twice and narrowly missed several potential goal-of-the-tournament candidates, allowing Sweden only one shot on target.
In the second half, it was merely a matter of when France would score more, and they were efficient, adding two more goals. With two goals from Kylian Mbappé and two assists from Michael Olise, France marches on. — Gab Marcotti
Ways France Can Outmatch Opponents
Picture a formidable front four, all contributing to goals or assists in a World Cup match. That’s the current France squad: Ousmane Dembélé, Bradley Barcola, Olise, and Mbappé were simply relentless against Sweden.
Their play is seamless, fluid, and captivating—truly a hallmark of French football. Opponents can face danger from all angles as confidence soars, and these players clearly revel in their collective efforts.
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Sweden proved no challenge. Their defensive setup, sometimes shifting to a back six or seven, couldn’t contain France’s exceptional four. The creativity and flair displayed by Olise were pivotal, complemented by the immense speed and skill of all four players.
“He contributes so much on the field,” Barcola remarked of Olise after the match. “He defends well, delivers great passes, and creates threats. It’s a joy to play alongside him. He has a knack for scoring too, and he was close this time, but it will come. He’s a genius.”
This match could easily have resulted in a five- or six-goal rout. Olise came tantalizingly close to scoring one of the greatest goals in World Cup history with an impressive scissor kick that struck the post. Mbappé also missed another hat trick by hitting the woodwork.
Tougher challenges await, but for now, let’s appreciate the brilliance of this French attack. — Julien Laurens
0:33
France fans in Paris celebrate Mbappé’s goal against Sweden.
Identifying France’s Weaknesses is No Easy Task
No team is without flaws, and France is no exception. However, pinpointing those weaknesses can prove to be quite a challenge.
Perhaps their most underwhelming performance came in the first half of their match against Senegal, which felt more like a result of coach Didier Deschamps experimenting with functionality rather than any inherent weakness. Once the team reverted to expected positions, they looked much more composed.
The primary vulnerabilities appear in the fullback positions and central midfield. Right back Jules Koundé may be effective defensively but lacks the offensive edges seen in players like Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi. Left back Lucas Digne is competent, yet seems merely average. However, Koundé’s strengths shine when he has talented players around him, allowing him to transition well defensively and offensively, providing an additional layer of defense.
Neither player is suited to step into midfield to aid playmaking, which poses a potential issue. While Aurélien Tchouaméni displays immense defensive prowess, and Adrien Rabiot brings physicality with a knack for long-range shots, they lack significant creativity. This could be tested against a high-pressing adversary.
Few teams dare to test their resistance against such pressing tactics, as pushing against France allows them to exploit the spaces left behind. No team wants to race against Mbappé & Co. If they find themselves cornered, Olise offers an option to drop back and facilitate playmaking, or Deschamps could lean on his more skilled passers available on the bench, like Manu Koné or Warren Zaïre-Emery.
Perhaps France’s greatest vulnerability comes from within. It’s a cliché, but dynamic offensive groups can falter when given too much freedom. They sometimes become overly intricate, reliant on their talent and overlook strategic execution—like a golfer admiring a drive while someone else drives off with the cart.
While these vulnerabilities exist, any team wishing to defeat France will ultimately have to outplay them, a daunting task in its own right. — Marcotti
Mbappé Continues to Make His Mark
When will Mbappé’s ascent end? He shows no signs of slowing down, and his potential seems limitless.
Once again, he scored a brace against Sweden, bringing his total to six goals in four matches this tournament, following strikes against Senegal and Iraq. He also contributed two assists in their match against Norway. Mbappé now boasts an incredible record of 18 goals in just 18 World Cup matches, trailing only Lionel Messi for the all-time total.
When he exited the match with only minutes remaining, Deschamps performed a bowing gesture before him. After scoring the opening goal, Mbappé rushed to embrace his coach, dedicating the goal to Deschamps and his late mother, who had passed the previous week.
Mbappé has showcased an intense desire to reclaim the World Cup and further engrave his name in its legacy. — Laurens
France Emerges as Strong Favorites
While it may not be appropriate to call this a statement win since Sweden struggled, this match truly showcased France’s best performance of the tournament thus far, having already impressed in the group phase. They have now played four games, won four, scored 14 goals, and allowed just two, demonstrating strength, flair, and confidence.
“In football, anything can happen… but I haven’t seen a better team,” remarked Sweden coach Graham Potter post-match. “The quality on the pitch and the depth they have on the bench is remarkable.”
Having been labeled favorites before this impressive showing, they are now considered even more likely to secure the title. As they look ahead to their next match against Paraguay on Saturday in Philadelphia, any opponent will need a solid strategy to contend with them.
Aside from the roles of their two fullbacks, France’s biggest potential pitfall might be a surge of overconfidence. This has historically been a challenge for Les Bleus, but this group appears more focused and determined to achieve a third consecutive final and a third World Cup victory after 1998 and 2018. — Laurens
1:45
Analyzing Sweden’s shortcomings against France.
Sweden’s Journey Ends Early
Sweden advanced to the knockout stages by unconventional means—finishing last in their qualifying group with just two points from six matches but securing a spot in the UEFA playoffs due to their Nations League ranking. Now, they exit just as quietly.
There’s little memorable from Sweden’s World Cup campaign save for a 5-1 victory over Tunisia (who were plagued by turmoil behind the scenes), which felt far too easy. The silver lining is the emergence of young talents like midfielders Yasin Ayari and Lucas Bergvall, aged 22 and 20 respectively, who could become the backbone of this team going forward.
However, striker Alexander Isak is still struggling for form and has not delivered the performances expected based on his significant transfer fee. Similarly, forward Viktor Gyökeres has proven one-dimensional, lacking productivity in a system that failed to support him during the tournament.
In hindsight, could there have been different decisions made by coach Potter? It’s easy to critique after the fact, but with such a disparity in talent and experience, it’s tempting to close ranks defensively and rely on more skilled players to create scoring options. This strategy helped them escape the group stage, but it yielded little chance against the French.
“The better team won. We needed to play perfectly, and even then, I’m not sure it would have been adequate,” Potter expressed post-match. “I have no complaints about the players; it’s not disgraceful to lose to France. For us, it’s about using this experience as a foundation for the future.” — Marcotti