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Kylian Mbappe is now tied with Lionel Messi with seven goals at this summer's FIFA World Cup -Credit:Brad Smith/ISI Photos, ISI Photos via Getty Images
The handbrake is off. What has Didier Deschamps unleashed on this FIFA World Cup?
A formidable France flexed their muscles once again on Tuesday, ruthlessly dispatching Sweden 3-0 in New Jersey. In truth, it should have been by an even greater margin.
Deschamps' side struck the post twice in a first half they started sluggishly, before Kylian Mbappe broke the deadlock with a moment of brilliance just before the interval. France showed no signs of relenting in the second half, with Michael Olise elegantly threading Bradley Barcola through for Les Blues' second goal.
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-Credit:Shaun Botterill - FIFA, FIFA via Getty Images
The third was magnifique. Producing a perfectly weighted slide-rule pass, Olise teed up Mbappe to put the contest to bed, as France's captain drew level with Lionel Messi on seven in the race for the Golden Boot, as per The Mirror.
France will now face Paraguay in Philadelphia on Saturday, acutely aware of the danger posed by the South Americans, who eliminated Germany on penalties. As for Sweden, they'll simply be relieved to have made it this far.
Following a disastrous qualifying campaign in which they failed to win any of their six matches, their showing in the 2024 Nations League earned them a backdoor route into the UEFA play-offs. Graham Potter's wounded animals defeated Ukraine 3-1 in Spain before edging through a five-goal thriller against Poland in the final, having been drawn as the home team.
After arriving in North America, a 5-1 victory over Tunisia was followed by a 5-1 defeat against the Netherlands, leaving their qualification prospects in the balance. Fortunately, a 1-1 draw with Japan suited both sides, and Sweden advanced as one of the eight best third-placed teams.
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Potter's attention will now turn to another Nations League campaign, while Deschamps pursues a second World Cup title as a manager. Returning to the touchline after traveling back to France last week following the sad death of his mother, this was the ideal way to get back to work.
France have now become the first side in history to score three goals in five consecutive World Cup games. Les Blues will be tough to stop and, at this moment, they are the team to beat.
Yet if this storied tournament has taught us anything, it's that reputation means nothing.
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