The first knockout games of the World Cup were often decided in chaos, often by very slim margins.
Brazil, Canada and Norway needed very late goals to keep their places in the competition. Both Morocco and Paraguay needed penalties, the cruelest way to break the deadlock.
And then he came Francethe most beloved team of them all, emerging from chaos to remind us that football matches can be won with order, calm and complete dominance.
France entered this competition as favourites, a sentiment that has only strengthened since the tournament began. France’s performance in the group stage, winning all three games, was matched only by Argentina and Mexico. Only the Netherlands and Germany were equal in terms of 10 goals, both of which were eliminated in the round of 16.
France’s last performance was their most formidable yet: a devastating dismantling of a Swedish team that had seven Premier League regulars in its starting line-up.
He has two more goals to his name Kylian Mbappewho has now scored more World Cup knockout goals than any player in the competition’s history, and it ended with his coach Didier Deschamps seemingly bowing to his striker.
France made 25 shots against Sweden, 12 of them on target.