France’s 3-0 win over Sweden in East Rutherford ensured the reigning champions moved smoothly through the World Cup Round of 32 and into the last 16, another night that showcased Didier Deschamps’ well-drilled 4-2-3-1.
France eventually pierced Sweden’s two banks of four just before the interval. In the 45th minute Kylian Mbappé collected Ousmane Dembélé’s pass and beat Jacob Widell Zetterström, a deserved reward for a side that had been forcing saves all half and would finish with 12 shots on target. Michael Olise dictated play from the central lane behind Mbappé, continually linking midfield and attack.
The second half brought quick insurance. Bradley Barcola doubled the advantage in the 53rd minute after Olise slid him in, and Mbappé completed his brace in the 74th, again supplied by Olise. With the contest under control, Deschamps rotated: Malo Gusto and Désiré Doué entered on 75 minutes, Theo Hernández followed at 78, and Jean-Philippe Mateta plus Rayan Cherki arrived in the 85th to keep legs fresh.
Sweden coach Graham Potter set his 4-4-2 to spring Viktor Gyökeres and Alexander Isak in transition, but Aurélien Tchouaméni and Adrien Rabiot screened the middle effectively. The centre-back partnership of William Saliba and Dayot Upamecano held the line, limiting Sweden to eight total shots. When space finally appeared in the 88th minute, Gyökeres was denied by Mike Maignan. Potter’s double substitution on 66 minutes — Besfort Zeneli for Elliot Stroud and Taha Abdi Ali for Lucas Bergvall — added mobility, yet Sweden still mustered only one corner and finished with 0.65 expected goals.
Key stats:
- Shots on target: France 12, Sweden 3
- Possession: France 61 percent
- Expected goals: France 3.17, Sweden 0.65
- Saves: Widell Zetterström 9, Maignan 3
Olise’s performance underlined Deschamps’ faith in him: he supplied two assists, completed 63 of his 69 passes and produced two key passes to steer France’s tempo, while Mbappé’s finishing turned territorial dominance into the final margin. Barcola’s direct running on the left kept Sweden pinned back and opened lanes for France’s forwards.
France advance to the Round of 16 later this week, intent on carrying this control into the knockout stages. Sweden head out knowing their evolving group still has strides to make under Potter after France’s depth and precision exposed the margins at this level.
