The French team easily beat the Swedes on Tuesday in New York thanks to two goals from Kylian Mbappe and one from Bradley Barcola.
Published 01/07/2026 01:50
Updated 01/07/2026 01:52
Reading time: 4 min.
Michael Olise, Kylian Mbappe and Adrien Rabiot during the match against Sweden, June 30, 2026, New York. (GULP)
The first obstacle was overcome with honor. France easily beat Sweden in the round of 16 of the World Cup, 3-0, on Tuesday, June 30, in New York, in their first direct knockout match of the tournament. The Blues relied on a steely center pivot who dominated Blagalts’ quick and physical forwards, a sprawling Adrien Rabiot in midfield and an attack as fluid as ever with the electrifying Michael Olise at the centre.
Mike Maignan: 6/10
Even in the city that never sleeps, it is to the Blues’ goalkeeper’s credit that he never dozed off. He was awake enough to fend off the only real warning, a low strike from Victor Dieukeres late in the match (88th minute). Before that, he only needed to block two shots, both light, against Alexander Isak in the first half hour.
Jules Kounde: 6.5/10
He nearly became the decisive passer for Kylian Mbappe with a carefully executed cross that the Blues skipper eventually tipped into the post (32nd). Having opened the scoring, he made a saving tackle in front of Victor Dieuqueres, who could have dampened the French enthusiasm just before the break (45th). He was solid defensively and combined well with Ousmane Dembele. His best match of the tournament so far. Malo Gusto was replaced in the 75th minute.
Dayot Upamecano: 7/10
In terms of speed ahead of Alexander Isak, in terms of power and height against Victor Gyöckeres, the central defender of Bayern Munich extinguished all the sparks of the Swedish attack. Always on his feet, never caught off guard, he brilliantly covered the space left by the Blues’ high position.
William Saliba: 6/10
Dominated by Alexander Isak in their first bout (3rd place), then Victor Dieukeres to the point where he made the mistake of hanging up his jersey (18th place), he then raised his voice to put himself on the level of his main partner, notably winning his aerial duels. The Swedish attacking trio was practically non-existent.
Lucas Digne: 5/10
Preferred to Theo Hernandez in the starting line-up, he did not fully confirm the choice of Didier Deschamps. Often dominant and sometimes ahead of Anthony Elang in the first period, he could have even awarded a penalty to Alexander Isak if Daniel Svensson had not been offside (45th + 3). In the second period he was less worried. Replaced by Theo Hernandez in the 78th.
Aurelien Tshuameni: 6/10
Not the most outstanding of the Blues, he still won most of his duels (5/8) and interrupted several early Swedish counter-attacks with his positioning. That’s how he initiated France’s second goal, before making a good pass to Michael Olise, the decisive passer.
Adrien Rabiot: 7.5/10
In the furnace and in the mill, the Milan midfielder shone both with his activity in recovery and with his forecasts. He could also open the scoring with a spontaneous decisive cross, saved by the foot of the Swedish goalkeeper (30th).
Ousmane Dembele: 6/10
There was no hat-trick or even a goal in the Ballon d’Or lineup this time, but Kylian Mbappe’s well-aimed pass for the corner at Reims that opened the scoring and four passes that led to a shot in total. He missed the target after Michael Olise’s scissors were deflected back by the post. In the 75th minute, Désiré Douhet was replaced.
Michael Olis: 9/10
More than ever, he was the master of the game for Didier Deschamps’ men. He improved every space between the lines, was at the center of most of the Blues’ big moves and made two superb passes, first at the perfect time for Bradley Barcola and then just before the interval for Kylian Mbappe’s second goal. His magnificent bicycle from the entrance to the territory (36th) would have deserved not to be stopped by the post. Replaced by Ryan Cherki in the 85th minute.
Bradley Barcola: 6.5/10
Preferred to Désiré Douai on the left flank, the OL trained man justified his stay in the team by scoring his second World Cup goal from inside the right flank to keep the Blues out of harm’s way (52nd). He had already scored in the slalom in the first period, then could have signed a brace without a good save from Jakob Videll Zetterström (82nd), but otherwise he was not the most influential striker.
Kylian Mbappe: 8.5/10
For the third time at this World Cup, the captain showed the way by opening the scoring for the Blues. In a three-way corner, he picked out Victor Dieuqueres, who appeared locked in (45th), before signing his third brace of the competition to join Lionel Messi as the top scorer (74th) in this World Cup with six goals. However, he was previously disappointed with a goal disallowed for offside (20th) and then a shot deflected by the post when the cage was open (32nd). In the 85th minute, Jean-Philippe Mateta was replaced.