Kylian Mbappé at the double as France swat aside Sweden in World Cup masterclass
When people form memories of the World Cup, it's matches like this that do it. France once again won comprehensively, and against decent opposition, but the quality of their attacking play, and the sheer beauty of their goals, were difficult to fully appreciate in the moment. It's the sort of thing that only comes into true focus upon reflection.
Kylian Mbappé drew alongside Lionel Messi in the race for the golden boot here with another brace of unerring finishes. Michael Olise should have had a hat-trick but made do with two assists and a virtuoso performance that left jaws across the floor of the New York-New Jersey stadium. At this point it is very hard to see beyond Didier Deschamps' men, and there is equally the sense that there is more to come.
"Team France has excellent players and when they have this state of mind and type of concentration it bodes very well", said Deschamps, who often likes to speak as if he is a neutral observer rather than the man leading this French campaign. The head coach has spent much of the tournament downplaying expectations and emphasising focus. Even though he admitted he enjoys watching his players have fun on the field, his emphasis was on the challenges ahead. "The teams we face are going to get better, so we need to fine tune some things," he said.
On a hot afternoon in East Rutherford, the first 30 minute suggested an intriguing contest, with Les Bleus dominating possession and Sweden offering a threat on the counter. Then, abruptly, the French upped it. It was Adrian Rabiot who set the tide in motion on the half hour, unleashing a drive that Jacob Widell Zetterström only just turned round the post with his feet. Shortly after that Mbappé fired over, then hit a post from all of six yards out. On 35 minutes, Olise effected a perfect scissor kick that also came off the woodwork, then fell to Ousmane Dembélé, whose follow-up went well over the bar. Olise then nearly scored from 20 yards out but, at full stretch, Zetterström saved for a corner.
