Mbappe & Olise star in France's thrashing of Sweden
by Kickoff Reporter · KickOffTwo-time champions France thumped Sweden 3-0 to reach the last 16 of the FIFA World Cup on Tuesday evening.
Fixture: France v Sweden
Score: 3-0
Goalscorers: Mbappe (45', 75'), Barcola (53')
Les Bleus stormed through their group to reach this stage of the tournament with three successive wins, while the Swedes advanced as one of the third-best placed teams after their last match ended in a 1-1 draw against Japan.
The runners-up from four years ago made a positive start, but breathed a sigh of relief past the hydration break after a smart ball in the channels by Yasin Ayari picked out Alexander Isak, who snapped his lines.
Captain Kylian Mbappe probed again on the half-hour mark and charged onto a cutback to the back-post by Jules Kounde to release a first-time shot, but his effort rattled the upright before the Swedish defence were able to clear the ball.
The post denied the two-time champions again in the last ten minutes of the half following a spectacular overhead attempt in the box by Michael Olise, while Ousmane Dembele sent his effort wide of the top corner with only the goalkeeper to beat.
Mbappe broke the Swede’s resistance following persistent late pressure after latching onto a neat pass from Dembele before weaving his way past one challenge for an exquisite finish, taking his tally to five goals at the World Cup.
Second Half:
Les Bleus extended their lead eight minutes after the interval when Olise came short to the edge box to deliver a pin-point through pass to Bradley Barcola, who managed to beat the offside to unleash a powerful finish into the top corner.
Les Bleus added to their lead in the closing minutes after Olise came on the inside-left of the box and laid off a précised delivery for Mbappe to bulge the net from a tight angle, completing his brace while moving level with Lionel Messi at the top of the Golden Boot chart.
The third goal prompted coach Didier Deschamps to go to his dugout and refresh his personnel by taking off Dembele for Desire Doue before Malo Gusto came on the park ahead of Kounde.
Blagult went searching for a consolation in the final minutes through a close-range effortt by Viktor Gyokeres, but goalkeeper Mike Maignan pulled off a fine save as Les Bleus cruised to victory to set-up a last 16 clash with Paraguay.