Mbappe double sends France past Sweden and into Paraguay tie

Kylian Mbappe scored twice as France defeated Sweden 3-0 on Tuesday to reach the World Cup last 16, AFP reported. The win sets up a meeting with Paraguay in Philadelphia on Saturday and keeps Didier Deschamps’s team in the tournament as his long spell in charge nears its end.

Michael Olise was central to the victory at New York New Jersey Stadium, where AFP reported a crowd of 80,663. He helped create France’s second goal for Bradley Barcola and later supplied Mbappe for the third after France had controlled the game for long spells.

Mbappe opened the scoring just before half-time after France had twice hit the frame of the goal, AFP reported. The France captain had earlier struck the post, while Olise also hit an upright with an overhead kick before Ousmane Dembele sent the rebound wide.

According to AFP, Mbappe’s two goals took him to six at this World Cup, matching Lionel Messi in the race for the tournament’s top scorer award. The goals also lifted Mbappe to 18 in World Cup play overall, one short of Messi’s record total of 19.

Mbappe marked his first goal by going to embrace Deschamps, AFP reported. Deschamps had missed France’s final group match against Norway after returning home for his mother’s funeral.

Deschamps is due to leave his post when France’s campaign ends, AFP reported. He captained France to their first World Cup title in 1998 and coached the national team to another title in 2018.

France also faced Paraguay on the way to the 1998 title, AFP noted. That meeting came in the last 16 and ended 1-0 after Laurent Blanc scored a golden goal in extra time.

Sweden, coached by Graham Potter, could not turn their attacking options into sustained pressure, according to AFP. Viktor Gyokeres, Alexander Isak and Anthony Elanga started with Premier League pedigree, but Sweden struggled to see enough of the ball to create clear chances.

AFP reported that Sweden had reached the tournament in North America through the playoffs. Their run ended in the first knockout round against a France side that dominated possession and attempts on goal.

France thought it had gone ahead in the 20th minute when Olise sent Mbappe through the middle and he finished, AFP reported. A narrow offside decision ruled out the goal, but France kept pressing and soon created a run of chances.

The breakthrough came at the end of the first half. After Swedish goalkeeper Jacob Widell Zetterstrom turned away an Olise shot, Dembele and Olise worked the resulting corner to Mbappe, who finished for 1-0, AFP reported.

France doubled the lead eight minutes after the interval. AFP reported that Olise played a pass through Gustaf Lagerbielke’s legs to Barcola, who struck the ball in for the second goal.

Olise later missed after getting through on goal, but he was involved again when France made it 3-0. AFP reported that he set up Mbappe, who curled in his second goal in the 74th minute to seal the win.

This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.