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Any doubts about France’s mentality following the shock knockout exits of Germany and Brazil were swiftly erased on a scorching afternoon in New Jersey. Didier Deschamps’ side delivered a resounding 3-0 victory over Sweden, proving they can elevate their performance at will. While the Swedes were outclassed, France hit the woodwork twice and restricted their opponents to a solitary shot on target. The second half was merely a matter of time before their dominance showed, with Kylian Mbappé netting twice and Michael Olise providing two brilliant assists.
The truly terrifying aspect of this French side is their fluidity. Imagine a front four of Ousmane Dembélé, Bradley Barcola, Olise, and Mbappé, all contributing to goals or assists in a single match. It is fluid, beautiful, and utterly devastating. Sweden, despite deploying a defensive five or sometimes a back seven, could not contain them. Barcola rightly praised Olise’s genius, noting his defensive work rate and creative flair. Had Olise’s spectacular scissor kick not struck the post, we would be discussing one of the greatest goals in World Cup history.
Identifying weaknesses in this French squad is an arduous task. Their only lacklustre 45 minutes came against Senegal, arguably due to tactical tinkering. Pundits often point to the full-backs or a lack of midfield creativity as potential flaws. Jules Koundé and Lucas Digne may not be the most attacking options, but they offer immense defensive solidity, allowing the forwards ahead of them to thrive. In midfield, Aurélien Tchouaméni and Adrien Rabiot provide a robust shield. While they might lack intricate playmaking skills, pressing France high leaves acres of space for Mbappé to exploit.
Speaking of Mbappé, the captain continues to rewrite the history books. His brace against Sweden takes his tournament tally to six, following doubles against Senegal and Iraq, alongside two assists against Norway. Astoundingly, he now boasts 18 goals in 18 career World Cup appearances, sitting just one shy of Lionel Messi’s all-time record. His nine knockout stage goals are already a tournament record. Driven by a desire to honour his late mother, Mbappé is playing with an unmatched, relentless intensity.
Ultimately, France are the overwhelming favourites to lift the trophy. Four matches have yielded four victories, 14 goals scored, and only two conceded. As former Sweden manager Graham Potter conceded, it is difficult to imagine a better team in world football right now. While trickier tests lie ahead, starting with Paraguay in Philadelphia, the greatest threat to France might just be overconfidence. However, with their eyes firmly fixed on a third consecutive final, this generation appears too focused to let complacency ruin their campaign.
