Mbappé scores twice as France beat Sweden 3-0
Quick Look
- Kylian Mbappé scored two goals, including a World Cup knockout round scoring record, as France defeated Sweden 3-0.
- Bradley Barcola added another goal for France, who outshot Sweden 25-7.
- France will face Paraguay in the Round of 16.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
France defeated Sweden 3-0 in a World Cup knockout match, with Kylian Mbappé scoring twice. The win sets up a Round of 16 match against Paraguay.
Live updates: France vs Sweden
By Simon Smale
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Netherlands coach Koeman resigns after penalty shootout loss
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By Andrew McGarry
AP
Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman has resigned after his team was knocked out of the World Cup with a Round of 32 loss to Morocco in a penalty shootout.
Koeman, 63, announced his decision in a social media post. The defeat marked the Netherlands' earliest exit from a World Cup.
The Netherlands had reached at least the round of 16 in 11 previous World Cups, including a quarterfinal appearance four years ago in Qatar. This year's tournament expanded to 48 teams, sending 32 to the knockout stage.
In his announcement, Koeman said he shared a dream of a World Cup that would "make history" and that no-one was more disappointed than he is that it didn't happen. The Netherlands has reached the World Cup final three times but never won it.
The loss to Morocco was the third consecutive time the Netherlands had been eliminated from the World Cup in a penalty shootout. The Dutch had scored a tournament-high 10 goals in the group stage, but scored just one from the field against Morocco in a match that finished 1-1 before going to a shootout.
The World Cup was Koeman's second time leading the national team. He led the Dutch to the semifinals of the 2024 European Championship.
The team's trip to the semifinal of Euro 2024 marked the first time the Netherlands had reached the semifinals of a major international tournament since the 2014 World Cup.
Mbappé scores twice as France beat Sweden 3-0
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By Andrew McGarry
AP
Kylian Mbappé put France ahead with a brilliant crossover step in the 45th minute and then added a second-half goal to break a World Cup knockout round scoring record, and Les Bleus beat Sweden 3-0 to set up a Round of 16 match against Paraguay.
Bradley Barcola added a 53rd-minute goal for France, and Mbappé capped the scoring in the 74th minute for his third two-goal game in four matches. His six goals tied Argentina forward Lionel Messi for the tournament lead and gave him 18 in his World Cup career, one shy of Messi's record.
Mbappé's 10 knockout round goals are two more than the previous high by Brazilian greats Leonidas and Ronaldo. France coach Didier Deschamps bowed when his star came to the bench after he was substituted in the 85th minute.
France, the World Cup runner-up four years ago and a tournament favourite this time, has outscored opponents 13-2, with Michael Olise assisting on five goals.
On a brutally hot afternoon at New York New Jersey Stadium, site of the World Cup final in July 19, France outshot Sweden 25-7, including 15-3 in the first half.
Seeking to reach its third straight World Cup final, France plays Paraguay on July 4 in Philadelphia, and the winner advances to a quarterfinal against Canada or Morocco five days later at Foxborough, Massachusetts.
It was 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 degrees Celsius), sunny and humid at the 5pm kick-off with poor air quality. During the first-half hydration break, France defender Lucas Digne let himself be doused by a sprinkler.
Mbappé hit a post in the 32nd minute, raising both hands in disgust, and France nearly went ahead four minutes later on Olise's spectacular bicycle kick from just inside the penalty area, which also clanked off a post.
In the first World Cup meeting between the nations, Mbappé scored after goalkeeper Jacob Widell Zetterström tipped Olise's shot just outside the post.
Olise played a short corner kick to Ousmane Dembélé, who passed to Mbappé near the byline. Mbappé took a crossover step to get around Viktor Gyökeres and from just outside the 6-yard box sent a diagonal shot inside the far post.
Mbappé ran up the centre of the field to celebrate his 61st international goal, colliding with Dembélé, and jogged to the bench to hug Deschamps, who returned for the match after going to France for his mother's funeral.
Gustaf Lagerbielke lost the ball ahead of France's second goal. Aurélien Tchouaméni passed to Olise, who nutmegged Lagerbielke, and Barcola took a centring touch and sent the ball past Zetterström's outstretched right hand.
Mbappé entertained the crowd with a backheel pass to Barcola in the buildup to France's third goal. Barcola passed to Olise, who passed to Mbappé as the star sprinted into the penalty area. He steadied the ball with a touch and fired it inside the far post.
A majority of fans wore France's blue, with a pocket in Sweden's yellow at one end. A crowd of 80,663 raised the record total for the expanded 104-match tournament above 5 million.
France - Sweden FT stats
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By Andrew McGarry
FT: France demolish Sweden 3-0 in New Jersey!
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By Andrew McGarry
The whistle sounds, ending an hour and a half of pure French football art.
They were too strong, too fast, too skilful, and the Swedes had no answer.
This forward line of Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, Michael Olise and Bradley Barcola is all but unstoppable right now.
Two great goals from Mbappé, a great finish from Barcola and a few left on the table, including Olise's brilliant scissor-kick off the post.
They have speed, power, creativity, and technique. When they switch it on — which is often — they just show why they are the favourites for this tournament.
This isn't just about Sweden — who else is going to stop Les Bleus?
Good luck to Paraguay in the Round of 16, and, quite frankly, good luck to everyone else who may face this side as the tournament continues. Bravo, Les Bleus!
88' Gyökeres shot saved by Maignan!
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By Andrew McGarry
The French team REALLY wants to keep a clean sheet!
Sweden, to their credit, are still trying, with a ball through to Viktor Gyökeres, who is clear, and his shot for the corner is brilliantly stopped by Mike Maignan.
It's just not the day for the Swedes.
84' France take Mbappé and Olise off
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By Andrew McGarry
Didier Deschamps takes pity on Sweden, and takes off Kylian Mbappé and Michael Olise to a huge ovation for both.
On come Rayan Cherki and Jean-Philippe Mateta.
80' Doué wants in on the goals
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By Andrew McGarry
The problem when you have such a ridiculously stacked attack like France has, is that the subs, when they come on, want to match the starters to put pressure on.
Désiré Doué is on, and he just charged into the area, and his shot was saved.
French just unstoppable
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By Andrew McGarry
So that goal means France becomes the first team in World Cup history to score three or more goals in five consecutive games at the finals.
Add in the fact that Michael Olise has five assists (two more than anyone else at this tournament), and this is just another stunning French performance.
Olise provides for Mbappé
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By Amanda Shalala
Mbappé is obviously unbelievable; we all know that. But I am all aboard the Olise train. He has been so influential in this game and adds another assist. CHOOO CHOOO!
73' It's Mbappé again!!!
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By Andrew McGarry
This is just brilliant by France!
This front three or four are just unstoppable! It's Barcola to Olise, who sends the slide-pass through to Mbappé, and he crushes another goal!
It's 3-0, Mbappé has six for the World Cup and matches Lionel Messi for the Golden Boot!
Simply wonderful stuff.
71' France break set for goal, but great stop by Swedish keeper
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By Andrew McGarry
The French aren't playing quietly after the hydration break!
They break after a turnover, and Kylian Mbappé is set free down the left. He races away, I think he might be offside but the flag stays down, and he plays in Michael Olise on the right.
Olise advances on goal, but the keeper saves!!!
Sweden makes changes
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By Andrew McGarry
Sweden make a couple of changes, with Lucas Bergvall and Elliot Stroud off, and midfielder Besfort Zeneli and striker Taha Ali on.
This happened a minute or two ago, we are now on our hydration break.
66' Sweden move breaks down
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By Andrew McGarry
Sweden find a rare break, with Alexander Isak getting free down the left, his cross towards Gyökeres is cleared.
64' Another corner after Olise shot blocked away
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By Andrew McGarry
It's like deja vu all over again.
The French are breaking down the left with Kylian Mbappé at a dead sprint (frightening!). He plays through Michael Olise and his fierce shot is deflected out for a corner.
This could still be anything score-wise.
61' Olise strike turned round for a corner
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By Andrew McGarry
Fair to say France are not putting the cue in the rack in New Jersey!
Another Michael Olise drive has been palmed around the post for a corner by Jacob Widell Zetterström, who must be dreaming of being on an island beach right now — or at least somewhere where the French team aren't.
58' France hungry for more
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By Andrew McGarry
Just in case you forgot, there is more to France then just their ridiculous forwards.
They ALL have the abillity to do damage.
Jules Koundé has just been played in on the right, and his shot was saved.
Michael Olise appreciation post
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By Amanda Shalala
That was Barcola's goal but Olise's assist was superb. He has been so good at providing for his teammates so far at this tournament, and a fundamental cog in their success.
52' France score again through Bradley Barcola!
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By Andrew McGarry
The French are in again, and you can't say it wasn't coming!
Les Bleus have been cutting the Swedish defence apart with switches of play, and it happened again.
The ball was played into Michael Olise, who set up his fourth assist of the World Cup, teeing up Bradley Barcola who crashed it past the keeper to make it 2-0.
You'd have to say they have a foot (and a half) in the round of 16!
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
France will advance to the quarterfinals.
Very likely · Within weeks
Open Questions
- Can France maintain this form against stronger opponents?
- Will Mbappé break Messi's World Cup career scoring record?

